Method and apparatus for supporting group communications

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus supporting group communications in a peer to peer wireless network are described. Methods and apparatus are directed to implementations with closed groups, e.g., where the number of group members are fixed at a given time and known to one or more members of the group. Various embodiments are well suited to decentralized peer to peer wireless networks including a plurality of individual traffic resources, e.g., traffic slots and/or traffic segments, which may be independently scheduled. Approaches for implementing distributed scheduling for traffic air link resources which may carry group traffic signals and/or peer to peer traffic signals are described. Various aspects are directed to the transmitter side including: group traffic transmission request transmissions, reception of request response signaling, transmitter yielding decisions, group rate determination and/or group traffic data signaling. Other aspects are directed to the receiver side including: reception of group traffic transmission request signals, receiver yielding decisions, transmitting group request responses signals, and/or receiving group traffic signaling.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/948,968 filed on Jul. 10, 2007, titled “METHODSAND APPARATUS FOR SENDING BROADCAST/MULTICAST MESSAGES IN A PEER-TO-PEERNETWORK”, and assigned to the assignee hereof and which is herebyexpressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

Various embodiments relate to wireless communications, and moreparticularly, to methods and apparatus related to supporting groupcommunications.

BACKGROUND

In a wireless communications system there is typically a fixed amount ofair link resources available for utilization by wireless communicationsdevices for combined control signaling and traffic signaling. In awireless communications system lacking centralized control, e.g., an adhoc peer to peer network, the scheduling of traffic air link resourcesis a challenging task.

At times a single device in a peer to peer network may desire totransmit the same data to a plurality of other devices in the network.One can simply transmit multiple copies of the same data to theplurality of intended recipients. However, this tends to waste thevaluable traffic air link resources. It would be beneficial if newmethods and apparatus were developed which supported groupcommunications, thus allowing the same traffic signal to be communicatedefficiently to multiple other group members.

SUMMARY

Methods and apparatus related to group communications in a wirelesscommunications system, e.g., a peer to peer wireless communicationssystem, are described. Methods and apparatus directed to closed groups,e.g., where the number of group members are fixed at a given time andknown to one or more members of the group, are described. Variousembodiments are well suited to decentralized peer to peer wirelessnetworks including a plurality of individual traffic resources, e.g.,traffic slots and/or traffic segments, which may be independentlyscheduled in a decentralized manner. Approaches for implementingdistributed scheduling for traffic air link resources which may carrygroup traffic signals and/or peer to peer traffic signals are described.

Various aspects are directed to the transmitter side including: grouptraffic transmission request transmissions, reception of requestresponse signaling, transmitter yielding decisions, group ratedetermination and/or group traffic data signaling. Other aspects aredirected to the receiver side including: reception of group traffictransmission request signals, receiver yielding decisions, transmittinggroup request responses signals, and/or receiving group trafficsignaling.

An exemplary method of operating a first peer-to-peer communicationsdevice to implement group communications, in accordance with someembodiments, includes transmitting a first plurality of transmissionrequests corresponding to multiple connections, said first plurality oftransmission requests corresponding to a first data transmission block,individual ones of said multiple connections being between said firstpeer to peer communications device and other peer-to-peer communicationsdevices in a communications group. The exemplary method furthercomprises transmitting data to said other peer-to-peer communicationsdevices in said first data transmission block.

An exemplary communications device, e.g., an exemplary peer-to-peercommunications device, supporting group communications, in accordancewith some embodiments, includes: a wireless transmitter; and atransmission request control module configured to control said wirelesstransmitter to transmit a plurality of transmission requestscorresponding to multiple connections, said plurality of transmissionrequests corresponding to a data transmission block, individual ones ofsaid multiple connections being between said peer to peer communicationsdevice and other peer-to-peer communications devices in a communicationsgroup. In some such embodiments, the exemplary communication devicefurther comprises a data transmission control module configured tocontrol said wireless transmitter to transmit data to said otherpeer-to-peer communications devices in said data transmission block.

Another exemplary method of operating a peer-to-peer communicationsdevice to implement group communications, in accordance with someembodiments, includes: receiving a first plurality of transmissionrequests corresponding to connections corresponding to a communicationsgroup and at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-groupconnection, said first plurality of transmission requests and said atleast one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connectioncorresponding to a first data transmission block. The exemplary methodfurther comprises making a decision whether or not to transmit atransmission request response to another member of said group from whicha transmission request was received as a function of a priority of aconnection between the second communications device and said anothermember of said group and a priority corresponding to said non-groupconnection without taking into consideration transmission requestsreceived from other members of said group.

An exemplary communications device, e.g., a peer-to-peer communicationsdevice, supporting group communications, in accordance with someembodiments includes: a wireless receiver module configured to receive afirst plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connectionscorresponding to a communications group and at least one transmissionrequest corresponding to a non-group connection, said first plurality oftransmission requests and said at least one transmission requestcorresponding to a non-group connection corresponding to a first datatransmission block. The exemplary communications device further includesa group request response decision module configured to make a decisionwhether or not to transmit a transmission request response to anothermember of said group from which a transmission request was received as afunction of a priority of a connection between the communications deviceand said another member of said group and a priority corresponding tosaid non-group connection without taking into consideration transmissionrequests received from other members of said group.

While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, itshould be appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include thesame features and some of the features described above are not necessarybut can be desirable in some embodiments. Numerous additional features,embodiments and benefits of various embodiments are discussed in thedetailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer network, e.g., anad-hoc communications network, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating afirst peer to peer communications device to implement groupcommunications.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless terminal, e.g., a peer topeer mobile node supporting group communications in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4, which comprises the combination of FIGS. 4A and 4B, is aflowchart of an exemplary method of operating a peer to peercommunications device to implement group communications.

FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., amobile peer to peer communications device supporting groupcommunications in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary timing structure andexemplary air link resources in an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications network,e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer communications network, supporting peer topeer communications and group traffic signaling.

FIG. 8 illustrates the same wireless terminals of FIG. 7 and providesadditional information used to illustrate an example of group trafficsignaling in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary set of air link resources in a recurringpeer to peer timing structure associated with a traffic segment,priority information associated with at least some of those resourcesand connection identifier information associated with at least some ofthose resources.

FIG. 10 illustrates exemplary signaling that may be communicated usingthe resources of FIG. 9 in one exemplary scenario corresponding to FIG.8.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary set of air link resources in arecurring peer to peer timing structure associated with a trafficsegment, priority information associated with at least some of thoseresources and connection identifier information associated with at leastsome of those resources.

FIG. 12 illustrates exemplary signaling that may be communicated usingthe resources of FIG. 11 in another exemplary scenario corresponding toFIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a peer topeer communications device to implement group communications.

FIG. 14 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., a peerto peer mobile node, supporting group communications in accordance withan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a drawing of exemplary communications devices in acommunications network which have established a group.

FIG. 16 illustrates exemplary air link resources in an exemplaryrecurring timing structure and exemplary signaling carried by those airlink resources.

FIG. 17, comprising the combination of FIG. 17A, FIG. 17B and FIG. 17C,is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a communicationsdevice in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., a peerto peer mobile node, supporting group communications in accordance withan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications networksupporting group communications and peer to peer communications.

FIG. 20 illustrates exemplary resources allocation and exemplarysignaling corresponding to the example of FIG. 19, for one traffic slotin a recurring timing/frequency structure in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications networksupporting group communications and peer to peer communications.

FIG. 22 illustrates exemplary resource allocation and exemplarysignaling corresponding to the example of FIG. 21, for one traffic slotin a recurring timing/frequency structure in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer network 100, e.g., anad-hoc communications network, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment. The exemplary network supports the establishment of groupsand the transmission of group traffic signaling. Exemplary peer to peernetwork 100 includes a plurality of wireless devices (peer to peercommunications device 1 102, peer to peer communications device 2 104,peer to peer communications device 3 106, peer to peer communicationsdevice 4 108, . . . , peer to peer communications device N 110)supporting peer to peer traffic signaling and group traffic signaling.In some embodiments, the network 100 includes a reference signaltransmitter 116, e.g., a beacon transmitter.

The wireless devices (102, 104, 106, 108, . . . , 110) in thecommunications network 100 can establish connections with one anotherand form groups. There is a recurring timing structure used in thenetwork 100. In some embodiments a reference signal, e.g., an OFDMbeacon signal from reference signal transmitter 116, is used by awireless device to synchronize with respect to the timing structure.Alternatively, a signal used to synchronize with the timing structuremay be sourced from another device, e.g., a GPS transmitter, a basestation or another peer to peer device. The timing structure used in thenetwork includes a plurality of individual traffic slots.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a flowchart 200 of an exemplary method ofoperating a first peer to peer communications device to implement groupcommunications. Operation of the exemplary method starts in step 202,where the first device is powered on and initialized and proceeds tostep 204.

In step 204 the first device transmits a plurality of transmissionrequests corresponding to multiple connections, said plurality oftransmission requests corresponding to a data transmission block,individual ones of said multiple connections being between said firstpeer to peer communications device and other peer to peer communicationsdevices in a communications group. In some embodiments, the plurality oftransmission requests are transmitted in a transmission request block.Operation proceeds from step 204 to step 206

In step 206 the first device makes a decision whether or not transmit insaid data transmission block based on signal received from non-groupmember peer to peer devices or lack thereof. In various embodiments,step 206 includes one or more of sub-steps 208 and 210. In sub-step 208,the first device makes the decision whether or not to transmit in saiddata transmission block as a function of the received power level of anytransmission request responses corresponding to non-group memberconnections which have a higher priority than the highest priorityconnection of said multiple connections. In sub-step 210 the firstdevice makes the decision whether or not to transmit in the datatransmission block as a function of the number of responses receivedfrom group members.

Operation proceeds from step 206 to step 212. In step 212 the firstdevice proceeds differently as a function of the decision of step 206.If the decision is to transmit in the data transmission block, thenoperation proceeds from step 212 to step 214. However, if the decisionis not to transmit, then operation proceeds from step 212 to step 216.

Returning to step 214, in step 214, the first device transmits a pilotsignal. Then in step 218 the first device receives a plurality ofchannel quality feedback signals from different members of the group.Operation proceeds from step 218 to step 220.

In step 220 the first device determines a data rate to be used fortransmission of data in said data transmission block from said pluralityof channel quality feedback signals. In some embodiments, step 220includes sub-step 222. In sub-step 222 the first device selects a datatransmission rate which can be supported by a connection having theworst channel conditions indicated by said received channel qualityfeedback signals.

Operation proceeds from step 220 to step 224. In step 224 the firstdevice transmits data to the other peer to peer communications devicesin the data transmission block. Operation proceeds from step 224 toconnecting node A 226.

Returning to step 216, in step 216 the first device refrains fromtransmitting data to the other peer to peer communications devices inthe data transmission block. Operation proceeds from step 216 toconnecting node A 226.

Operation proceeds from connecting node A 226 to step 204, where thefirst device transmits a plurality of transmission requestscorresponding to multiple connections corresponding to anothertransmission block.

Consider several exemplary passes through the flowchart. For the firstpass, consider that the data transmission block, referred to in step204, is a first data transmission block. Consider that the firstcommunications device has received transmission request responsescorresponding to at least some non-group members which correspond toconnections having higher priority than the highest priority connectionof the multiple connections between the first device and the otherdevices in its group. Further consider that the received power level ofthe received transmission request responses corresponding to thenon-group member of higher priority connections are below a threshold;the first device decides, in step 206, that it is ok to transmit in thefirst transmission block since it anticipates that interference causedby its data transmission is acceptable from the perspective of thehigher priority non-group member connections. Operations proceed alongthe path of steps 214, 218, 220 and 224 resulting in the transmission ofdata to the other peer to peer communications devices in the group inthe first data transmission block.

Now consider an exemplary second pass through the flowchart. For thesecond pass, consider that the data transmission block, referred to instep 204, is a second data transmission block. Consider that the firstcommunications device has received transmission request responsescorresponding to at least some non-group members which correspond toconnections having higher priority than the highest priority connectionof the multiple connections between the first device and the otherdevices in its group. Further consider that a received power level of areceived transmission request response corresponding to a non-groupmember of a higher priority connection is above a threshold; the firstdevice decides, in step 206, to perform transmitter yielding and not totransmit in the second transmission block since it anticipates thatinterference that would be caused by its data transmission isunacceptable from the perspective of the higher priority non-groupmember connection. Operation proceeds to step 216 in which the firstdevice is controlled to refrain from transmitting data to the other peerto peer device in the group in the second data transmission block.

Now consider an exemplary third pass through the flowchart. For thethird pass, consider that the data transmission block, referred to instep 204, is a third data transmission block. Consider that the firstcommunications device has not received transmission request responsescorresponding to any non-group members which correspond to connectionshaving higher priority than the highest priority connection of themultiple connections between the first device and the other devices inits group. Further consider that the first device has transmittedtransmission requests to a first number of group member in step 204,e.g., 10 member, and consider that the first device has detected requestresponses, e.g., positive acknowledgments from a second number of thegroup member, e.g., 8 members. In this case the first device decides toproceeds with the transmission since a high number and/or highpercentage of group member requested devices have positively responded.Operation proceeds along the path including steps 214, 218, 220 and 224resulting in transmission of data by the first device in the third datatransmission block.

Now consider an exemplary fourth pass through the flowchart. For thefourth pass, consider that the data transmission block, referred to instep 204, is a fourth data transmission block. Consider that the firstcommunications device has not received transmission request responsescorresponding to any non-group members which correspond to connectionshaving higher priority than the highest priority connection of themultiple connections between the first device and the other devices inits group. However the first communications device has detected one ormore request response corresponding to lower priority connections.Further consider that the first device has transmitted transmissionrequests to a third number of group member in step 204, e.g., 9 members,and consider that the first device has detected request responses, e.g.,positive acknowledgments from a fourth number of the group member, e.g.,2 members. In this case the first device decides to not to proceed withthe transmission since a low number and/or low percentage of groupmember requested devices have positively responded. Operation proceedsalong the path including step 216 resulting in the first devicerefraining from transmitting data in the fourth data transmission block.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless terminal, e.g., a peer topeer mobile node supporting group communications in accordance with anexemplary embodiment. Wireless terminal 300 includes a wireless receivermodule 302, a wireless transmitter module 304, user I/O devices 308, aprocessor 306, and memory 310 coupled together via a bus 312 over whichthe various elements may interchange data and information. In someembodiments, the wireless terminal 300 also includes a network interface307 which couples the wireless terminal, e.g., via a backhaul network,to network nodes and/or the Internet.

Memory 310 includes routines 318 and data/information 320. The processor306, e.g., a CPU, executes the routines 318 and uses thedata/information 320 in memory 310 to control the operation of thewireless terminal 300 and implement methods, e.g., the method offlowchart 200 of FIG. 2.

Wireless receiver module 302, e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA receiver, iscoupled to receive antenna 314 via which the wireless terminal 300receives signals from other wireless terminals. Received signalsinclude, e.g., request response signals from group member peer to peerwireless terminals to which wireless terminal 300 has sent a request andrequest response signals from non-group member peer to peer wirelessterminals, and channel quality feedback signals from group member peerto peer devices in response to a transmitted pilot signal.

Wireless transmitter module 304, e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA transmitter,is coupled to transmit antenna 316 via which the wireless terminal 300transmits signals to other peer to peer devices, e.g., to members of itsgroup. Transmitted signals include individual request signals directedto individual members of its group, a pilot signal transmitted as abroadcast signal intended to be received and measured by members of itsgroup, and a traffic signal directed to members of its group. In someembodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitter and receiver.

User I/O devices 308 include, e.g., a microphone, a speaker, a keyboard,a keypad, a camera, switches, a display, etc. User I/O devices 308 allowan operator of wireless terminal 300 to input data/information, accessoutput data/information, and control at least some functions of thewireless terminal 300.

Routines 318 include a communications routine 322 and wireless terminalcontrol routines 324. The communications routine 322 implements thevarious communications protocols used by the wireless terminal 300.Control routines 324 include a transmission request control module 326,a data transmission control module 328, a transmission decision module330, a received power level determination module 332, a priority module334, a group member identification module 336, a pilot signaltransmission control module 338, a transmission rate determinationmodule 340 and a response number counting module 342. Data/information320 includes timing structure information 344, information identifyingtransmission request resources for group members 360, generated requestsignals 362, received signals 364, power measurement information 366,information identifying which received signals are from group membersand which are from non-group members 368, priority information 370,pilot signal information 372, received channel quality information 374,rate information 376, transmission decision criteria information 378,traffic decision 380, and a group-cast traffic signal 382.

Timing structure information 344 includes information corresponding to aplurality of intervals (interval 1 information 346 . . . , interval Ninformation 348) in a recurring peer to peer timing structure. Interval1 information 346 includes transmission request air link resourceinformation 350, transmission request response air link resourceinformation 352, pilot signaling air link resource information 354, ratesignaling air link resource information 356, and traffic air linkresource information 358. Transmission request air link resourceinformation 350 includes information identifying a first traffictransmission request block including a plurality of individualtransmission units associated with different connection identifiers andassociated with different priority levels in the block. Transmissionrequest response air link resource information 352 includes informationidentifying a first traffic transmission request response blockincluding a plurality of individual transmission units associated withdifferent connection identifiers and associated with different prioritylevels in the block. Pilot signaling air link resource information 354includes information identifying resources to be used to carry pilotsignals including a plurality of individual resources associated withdifferent connection identifiers. Rate signaling air link resourceinformation 356 includes information identifying individual resourcesassociated with connection identifiers to be used to carry channelfeedback information in response to a received pilot signal. Traffic airlink resource information 358 includes information identifying a datatransmission block, e.g. a traffic segment, to be used to carry trafficsignals including a group-cast traffic signal.

Transmission request control module 326 controls the wirelesstransmitter module 304 to transmit a plurality of transmission requestscorresponding to multiple connections, said plurality of transmissionrequests corresponding to a data transmission block, individual ones ofthe multiple connections being between the peer to peer communicationsdevice 300 and other peer to peer communications devices in acommunications group. The plurality of transmission requests aretransmitted in a transmission request block, e.g., the transmissionrequest block identified by information 350 corresponding to interval 1.For example, consider that the requests are to be for using the traffictransmission block identified by information 358. The transmissionrequest control module 326 controls the wireless transmitter module 304to transmit generated request signal 362 to its group members usingtransmission units identified by information 360 which are a subset ofthe transmission units identified by information 350.

Data transmission control module 328 controls the wireless transmittermodule 304 to transmit data to other peer to peer communications devicesin a data transmission block. For example, data transmission controlmodule 328 controls the wireless transmitter module 304 to transmitgroup-cast traffic signal 382 using the traffic transmission blockidentified by information 358 in response to a positive decision totransmit in interval 1. Data transmission control module 328, which isresponsive to the transmission decision module 330 controls the wirelesstransmitter module 304 to refrain from transmitting data in a datatransmission block when the transmission decision module 330 decides notto transmit in the data transmission block.

Transmission decision module 330 makes a decision whether or not totransmit in a data transmission block based on signals received fromnon-group member peer to peer devices or lack thereof. For example,detected request response signals above a threshold level from non-groupmember signals corresponding to a higher priority connection than thehighest group member connection, in some embodiments, results in adecision not to transmit. Traffic decision 380 is an output oftransmission decision module 330 and is used as an input by datatransmission control module 328.

Received power level determination module 332 determines the receivedpower level of request response signals from other peer to peer wirelessterminals. Received signals 364 include request response signals, e.g.,RX echo signals, signifying that the wireless terminal which received atransmission request agrees to proceed with the transmission. Thereceived request response signals may be sourced from group memberwireless terminals to which wireless terminal 300 sent a request andfrom other wireless terminals corresponding to connections of whichwireless terminal 300 is not a member. Power measurement information 366includes information output from received power level determinationmodule 332 and used as input by transmission decision module 330.

Priority module 353 determines the transmission priority associated withthe connections of the group to which requests have been transmitted bywireless terminal 300 and the transmission priority associated withother connection which are not associated with the group. Priorityinformation 370 is an output of priority module 334 and is used as aninput by transmission decision module 330, e.g., in making transmissionyielding decisions.

Group membership identification module 336 identifies which of thereceived request response signals in received signals 364 are from agroup member and which of the received signals are from non-groupmembers. Information 368 is an output of group membership identificationmodule 336 and is used by transmission decision module 330. In someembodiments, individual transmission units within a transmission requestresponse air link resource, e.g., the transmission request responseblock identified by information 352, are associated with differentconnection identifiers, and such information is used by group membershipidentification module 336.

At times, the transmission decision module 330 determines whether or notto transmit in a data transmission block as a function of the receivedpower level of transmission request responses corresponding to non-groupmember connections which have been received and which have a higherpriority than the highest priority connection of multiple connections ofthe group to which wireless terminal 300 belongs.

Pilot signal transmission control module 338 controller the transmittermodule 304 to transmit, subsequent to the transmission of a plurality oftransmission requests, a pilot signal. Pilot signal information 372includes information specifying the characteristics of the pilot signal,e.g., transmission power level, signature and/or information of thepilot signal. In some embodiments, the pilot signal is a CDMA signalwhile the request signals are OFDM signals. In this embodiment, a singlepilot signal is controlled to be broadcast intended to be detected bymultiple group members, wherein individual transmission request signalsare transmitted to individual group members. Pilot signal information372 also includes information identifying the air link resource to beused to convey the pilot signal, e.g., the transmission unit or unitswithin pilot signaling air link resource information 356 correspondingto one of the connections of the group.

Receiver module 302 receives, prior to transmission by the transmittermodule 304 of data in a data transmission block, a plurality of channelquality feedback signals from different members of the group to whichthe wireless terminal 300 sent transmission requests. Received channelquality information 374 includes information conveyed by those signals,e.g., a channel quality estimate, a received power level, and/orinformation identifying a data rate supported by the channel. Channelquality information communicated to the wireless terminal 300 is inresponse to and based upon the pilot signal previously transmitted bywireless terminal 300.

Transmission rate determination module 340 determines a datatransmission rate to be used for transmission of data in a datatransmission block based on a plurality of received channel qualityfeedback signals. In some embodiments, transmission rate determinationmodule 340 determines a data transmission rate by selecting a datatransmission rate which can be supported by a connection having theworst channel conditions indicated by the received channel qualityfeedback signals. In other embodiments, a different criteria is utilizedfor selecting a data transmission rate. For example, in one embodiment,the data transmission rate is chosen which satisfies a determined numberor a determined percentage of the wireless terminals which haveresponded. In another embodiment, one or more outlier rate points, whichdeviate from a mean or median value are omitted in the consideration ofthe rate determination.

Response number counting module 342 counts a number of responsesreceived in response to the plurality of transmission requests whichwere transmitted by wireless terminal 300 in a request transmissionblock as part of a group request. In some embodiments, the transmissiondecision module 330 makes a decision whether or not to transmit data ina data transmission block based on the number of responses received fromgroup members. In some embodiments, if a minimum number or minimumpercentage of wireless terminals to which a request was transmitted havenot positively responded, the transmission decision module 330 decidesnot to transmit in the data transmission block based on the count fromthe response number counting module 342. For example, consider thatwireless terminal has transmitted transmission request signals to 8group members, but has only received one request response signal, insuch a case, in some embodiments, the transmission decision module 330may decide to refrain from transmitting in the data transmission block.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart 400 of an exemplary method of operating a peer topeer communications device to implement group communications. Operationof the exemplary method starts in step 402, where the communicationsdevice receives a first plurality of transmission requests correspondingto a communications group and at least one transmission requestcorresponding to a non-group connection, said first plurality oftransmission requests and said at least one transmission requestcorresponding to a non-group connection corresponding to a first datatransmission block. In some embodiments, the first plurality of thetransmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to acommunications group are received from a first transmission requestblock. In some such embodiments, the first plurality of transmissionrequests corresponding to connections corresponding to a communicationsgroup and the at least one transmission request corresponding to anon-group connection are received from the first transmission requestblock. In some embodiments, priority is conveyed by position of arequest in the first transmission request block. Operation proceeds fromstep 404 to step 405.

In step 405, the communications device identifies a receivedtransmission request from another member of said group from among saidfirst plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connectionscorresponding to the communications group. In some embodiments,identifying the received transmission request from said another memberof the group includes identifying the received transmission request fromamong said first plurality of transmission requests having the highestpriority. In some embodiments, identifying the received transmissionrequest from said another member of the group includes selecting thereceived transmission request from among said first plurality oftransmission requests which has the highest priority as the identifiedreceived transmission request from said another member of the group.

In step 406 the communications device makes a decision whether or not totransmit a transmission request response to another member of said groupfrom which a transmission request was received as a function of apriority of a connection between the communications device and saidanother member of said group and a priority corresponding to saidnon-group connection without taking into consideration transmissionrequests from other members of said group. Step 406 includes sub-steps408, 410, 414, 416, 418, 424, 426 and 428. Step 406 may, and sometimesdoes, include sub-step 412.

In sub-step 408, the communications device determines the priority ofthe received transmission request from said another group member. Insub-step 410 the communications device determines a priority of areceived transmission request corresponding to said non-group member. Insub-step 412, the communications device determines priority of areceived transmission request corresponding to another non-group member.Sub-step 412 may be, and sometimes is, repeated multiple timescorresponding to different received requests from non-group members,e.g., depending upon the number of received transmission requests fromnon-group members.

Operation proceeds from sub-steps 408 and 410, and 412 when performed,to sub-step 414. In sub-step 414 the communications device determineswhether or not the priority of the received transmission request fromthe another group member of sub-step 408 is higher than the priority ofeach of the received transmission requests corresponding to non-groupmembers. If the priority of the received transmission request from saidanother group member is higher than the priority of the receivedtransmission requests from non-group members, then operation proceedsfrom sub-step 414 to sub-step 426; otherwise, operation proceeds fromsub-step 414 to sub-step 416.

In sub-step 414 the communications device calculates a receive signalquality value as a function of the received power of the transmissionrequest from the another member of said group and the request from anon-group member request of higher priority. If there are multiplereceived transmission requests corresponding to non-group members ofhigher priority, then the calculation of the receive signal qualityvalue in step 416 is, in some embodiments, also calculated as a functionof the received power of the other non-group member requests of higherpriority. Operation proceeds from sub-step 416 to sub-step 418. Insub-step 418 the communication device compares the calculated signalquality value of sub-step 416 to a threshold. Operation proceeds fromsub-step 418 to sub-step 424.

There may be, and sometimes are, a plurality of received requestscorresponding to non-group member connections which have a higherpriority than the request from the another group member. For example,consider that there are five received transmission requestscorresponding to non-group members and three of the five are higherpriority than the received transmission request from the another groupmember. In such as example, the communications device may determine thepriority corresponding to each of the five received requests fromnon-group members. Then, in sub-step 416 the communications device maycalculate the receive quality value as a function of the received powerfrom the transmission request from the another member of the group andfrom the received power of three requests from non-group member requestsof higher priority.

Returning to step 424, in step 424 the communications device determineswhether or not the calculated value of sub-step 416 is below athreshold. If the calculated values of step 416 is below the thresholdapplied in the comparison of step 418, then operation proceeds from step424 to step 428, where the communications device decides not to transmita traffic transmission request to said another member of the group;otherwise, operation proceeds from step 424 to step 426. The decision ofstep 428 not to transmit a traffic transmission request to said anothergroup member is a receiver yielding decision to yield the traffictransmission resource. Returning to step 426, in step 426 thecommunications device decides to transmit a traffic transmission requestto said another member of the group.

Operation proceeds from step 406 via connecting node A 430 to step 432.If the decision of step 406 is to transmit a request response to saidanother group member from which a transmission request was received,then operation proceeds from step 432 to step 434; otherwise, operationproceeds from step 432 to connecting node B 444.

In step 434, the communications device generates a transmission requestresponse signal. Then, in step 436 the communications device transmitsthe generated transmission request response signal to said anothermember of said group. Operation proceeds from step 436 to step 438, inwhich the communications device receives a group traffic signal fromsaid another member of said group on a traffic transmission resourcecorresponding to the received transmission request from said anothermember of the group. Operation proceeds from step 438 to step 440, inwhich the communications device generates an acknowledgment signal inresponse to successful recovery by the communications device of grouptraffic data communicated in the group traffic signal. Then, in step 442the communications device transmits the generated acknowledgment signalto said another member of said group. Operation proceeds from step 442to connecting node B 444. In some embodiments, acknowledgment signalingcorresponding to group traffic signaling is not employed and step 440and 442 are not included. In such an embodiment, operation proceeds fromstep 438 to connecting node B 444.

Operation proceeds from connecting node B 444 to the input of step 404,where the communications device receives a second plurality oftransmission requests corresponding to a second data transmission block.

FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 500, e.g., amobile peer to peer communications device supporting groupcommunications in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplarycommunications device 500 includes a wireless receiver module 502, awireless transmitter module 504, a processor 506, user I/O devices 508and a memory 510 coupled together via a bus 512 over which the variouselements may interchange data and information. In some embodiments,communications device 500 also includes network interface 507 alsocoupled to bus 512. Network interface 507 allows the communicationsdevice 500 to be coupled to network nodes and/or the Internet via abackhaul network.

Memory 510 includes routines 518 and data/information 520. The processor506, e.g., a CPU, executes the routines 518 and uses thedata/information 520 in memory 510 to control the operation of thecommunications device 500 and implement methods, e.g., the method offlowchart 400 of FIG. 4.

Wireless receiver module 502, e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA receiver, iscoupled to receive antenna 514 via which the communications device 500receives signals from other communications devices, e.g., device 300 ofFIG. 3. Received signals include, e.g., group establishment signals,traffic transmission requests from group members, traffic transmissionrequests from non-group members, and group traffic signals, and peer topeer traffic signals. Wireless receiver module 502 may, and sometimesdoes, receive a first plurality of transmission requests correspondingto connections corresponding to a communications group and at least onetransmission request corresponding to a non-group connection, said firstplurality of transmission requests and said at least one transmissionrequest corresponding to a non-group connection corresponding to a firstdata transmission block.

Wireless transmitter module 504, e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA transmitter,is coupled to transmit antenna 516 via which the communications device500 transmits signals to other communications devices, e.g., device 300of FIG. 3. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitterand receiver. Transmitted signals include, e.g., group establishmentsignals, traffic transmission request response signals, group trafficacknowledgment signals, and peer to peer traffic acknowledgment signals.

User I/O devices 508 include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad,camera, switches, speaker, display, etc. User I/O devices 508 allow anoperator of communications device 500 to input data/information, accessoutput data/information, and control at least some functions of thecommunications device 500.

Routines 518 include a communications routine 522 and control routines524. The communications routine 522 implements the variouscommunications protocols used by the communications device 500. Controlroutines 524 include a transmission request detection module 526, agroup request response decision module 528, a priority comparison module530, a receive signal quality calculation module 532, a receiveryielding module 534, a transmission request response control module 540,a request priority determination module 542, a group transmissionrequest identification module 544 and a group traffic signal module 548.Receiver yielding module 534 includes a threshold comparison sub-module536 and a yielding decision sub-module 538. Group transmission requestidentification module 544 includes a highest priority group transmissionrequest identification module 546.

Data/information 520 includes timing/frequency structure information550, information identifying group members 552, received group membertransmission requests 554, received non-group member peer to peertransmission requests 556, determined priority information 558,identified group member request for which to consider request responsedecision 560, identified non-member transmission requests having higherpriority than the identified group member request 562, calculated signalquality value 564, threshold information 566, request response decision568, generated transmission request response signal 570, received grouptraffic signal 572, and generated group traffic acknowledgement signal574.

Transmission request detection module 526 detects transmission requestsignals received by wireless receiver module 502. Detected transmissionrequests can, and sometimes do, include a transmission request orrequests corresponding to group members and a transmission request orrequests corresponding to non-group members. At times, transmissionrequest detection module 526 detects, corresponding to a first datatransmission block, a first plurality of transmission requestcorresponding to a communications group of which device 500 is a memberand at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-groupconnection. The first plurality of transmission requests, in someembodiments, are received from a first transmission request block. Insome such embodiments, the at least one transmission requestcorresponding to a non-group connection is also received from the samefirst transmission request block. For example, the first transmissionrequest block corresponds to the first data transmission block, and thefirst transmission request block is used to carry traffic transmissionrequests requesting to transmit traffic signals in the first datatransmission block, e.g., a traffic segment.

Group request response decision module 528 makes a decision whether ornot to transmit a transmission request response to another member of acommunications group of which device 500 is a member, from which atransmission request was received, as a function of a priority of aconnection between the communications device 500 and said another memberof the group and a priority corresponding to a non-group connectionwithout taking into consideration transmission requests received fromother members of the group. Group request response decision module 528may, and sometimes does, make its decision as a function of prioritiescorresponding to multiple non-members connection requests which werereceived. Group request response decision module 528 may, and sometimesdoes, make a decision to transmit a transmission request response toanother member of the group when each of the received transmissionrequests from non-group members corresponding to connections have lowerpriority than the received transmission request from the another memberof the group.

Priority comparison module 530 determines if a priority corresponding toa non-group member from which a transmission request was received ishigher than a priority corresponding to a transmission request fromanother member of the group. Priority comparison module 530 may, andsometimes does, perform a plurality of comparisons corresponding to aplurality of non-member received transmission requests for the sametransmission request block. Receive signal quality calculation module532 calculates a receive signal quality value as a function of thereceived power of a received transmission request from another member ofthe group and the receive power of a received non-group membertransmission request of higher priority. Received signal qualitycalculation module 532 may, and sometimes does calculate a receivesignal quality value as a function of the receive power of a receivedtransmission request from another member of the group and from thereceived powers from a plurality of non-group member receivedtransmission requests of higher priority.

Receiver yielding module 534 compares a calculated receive signalquality value to a threshold, and when the calculated receive signalquality value is below a threshold, makes a decision not to transmit atransmission request response to the another member of said group fromwhich the group member request was received and for which the calculatedreceive signal quality value applies. Threshold comparison sub-module536 performs the comparison between the calculated receive signalquality value and the threshold. Yielding decision sub-module 538 makesthe decision whether or not implement receiver yielding based on thethreshold comparison determination. The output of the yielding decisionsub-module 538 is used an input to the group request response decisionmodule 528.

Transmission request response control module 540 controls the wirelesstransmitter module 504 to implement the decision of the group requestresponse decision module 528, e.g., transmitting a generatedtransmission request response signal when the decision is to transmit orcontrolling the wireless transmitter 504 to refrain from transmittingwhen the decision is not to transmit. Transmission request responsecontrol module 540 controls the wireless transmitter module 504 totransmit a transmission request response to the another member of thegroup when the group request response decision module 528 makes adecision to transmit a transmission request response to said anothermember of the group. In this exemplary embodiment, a request responsesignal transmitted in response to a group transmission request fromanother member of the communication group is a positive acknowledgmentto the transmission request from said another member of the group.

Request priority determination module 542 determines the requestpriority corresponding to group member transmission requests andnon-group member transmission requests. Determined priority information558 includes output information from request priority determinationmodule 542. In some embodiments, request priority is associated withlocation of a request in the transmission request block, e.g., inaccordance with the timing/frequency structure information 550.

Group transmission request identification module 544 determines thetransmission request from among a plurality of transmission requestscorresponding to connections corresponding to a communications groupcorresponding to a data transmission block for which a group requestresponse decision is to be performed. Highest priority grouptransmission request identification module 546 identifies the highestpriority request from among a plurality of transmission requestscorresponding to connections corresponding to a communications groupcorresponding to a data transmission block. In some embodiments, thedetermined highest priority group transmission request determined bymodule 546 is the identified request of module 544.

Group traffic signaling module 548 controls the reception of a grouptraffic signal 572 by wireless receiver module 502, the recovery ofgroup traffic data from received group traffic signal 572, thegeneration of a group traffic acknowledgment signal 574 and thetransmission of the generated group traffic acknowledgment signal 574.

Timing/frequency structure information 550 includes informationpertaining to a plurality of traffic slot air link resources, e.g.,traffic slot intervals, in a recurring timing structure. In someembodiments, an individual one of the traffic slot air link resourcesincludes information identifying transmission request air linkresources, transmission request response air link resources, pilotsignaling air link resources, rate signaling air link resources, trafficsignaling air link resources, and traffic acknowledgment air linkresources. In some embodiments the transmission request air linkresources include a transmission request block which includes aplurality of individual transmission units, e.g., OFDM tone-symbols,where an individual transmission unit is designate to carry atransmission request. In some embodiments, the traffic signaling airlink resources includes information identifying a data transmissionblock, e.g., a traffic segment associated with the transmission requestblock.

Information identifying group members 552 includes informationidentifying the members of the communications group to whichcommunications device 500 belongs. Received group member transmissionrequests 554 and received non-group member peer to peer transmissionrequests 556 represent received transmission requests detected bytransmission request detection module 528. Determined priorityinformation 558 includes information output by request prioritydetermination module 542 and which is used as input by prioritycomparison module 530, receive signal quality calculation module 532,and/or highest priority group transmission request identification module546. Identified group member request for which to consider requestresponse decision 560 is an output of group transmission requestidentification module 544. Identified non-member requests having higherpriority than the identified group member request 562 is an output ofpriority comparison module 530. Calculated signal quality value 564,e.g., an SINR value or SNR value, is an output of receive signal qualityvalue calculation module 532 and is used an input by thresholdcomparison sub-module 536 along with threshold information 566, e.g., apredetermined or dynamically determined value used to determine aminimum level of acceptable expected traffic signal reception quality atdevice 500 to allow the requested traffic transmission to proceed.Request response decision 568 is an output of group request responsedecision module 528 and is used as an input by transmission requestresponse control module 540.

In some embodiments, some module or sub-modules shown in the example ofFIG. 5 are included as sub-modules in other modules. For example, insome embodiments, request priority determination module 542, receiveryielding module 534, priority comparison module 530 and receive signalquality calculation module 532 are sub-modules of group request responsedecision module 528.

FIG. 6 is a drawing 600 illustrating an exemplary timing structure andexemplary air link resources in an exemplary embodiment. Vertical axis602 represents frequency, e.g., OFDM tones, while horizontal axis 604represents time. The exemplary timing/frequency recurring structureincludes a plurality of sets of air link resources associated withtraffic. First exemplary set of air link resources associated withtraffic includes connection scheduling air link resources 606, ratescheduling air link resources 608, data traffic air link resources 610and traffic acknowledgment air link resources 612. Exemplary nth set ofair link resources associated with traffic includes connectionscheduling air link resources 614, rate scheduling air link resources616, data traffic air link resources 618 and traffic acknowledgment airlink resources 620. Connection scheduling air link resources 606includes traffic transmission request resource 622 and traffictransmission request response resource 624. Rate scheduling air linkresources 608 includes pilot signaling resource 626 and channel qualityfeedback resource 628. Data traffic air link resources 610 includestraffic segment 630. Traffic acknowledgment air link resources 612include traffic acknowledgment segments 632.

FIG. 7 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications network 700,e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer communications network, supporting peer topeer communications and group traffic signaling. Exemplary wirelesscommunications network 700 includes a plurality of peer to peer wirelesscommunications devices (wireless terminal A 702, wireless terminal B704, wireless terminal C 706, wireless terminal D 708, wireless terminalE 710, wireless terminal F 712, wireless terminal G 714, wirelessterminal H 716). The exemplary wireless network 700 uses a recurringpeer to peer timing structure such as that shown in FIG. 6.

In the exemplary illustration of FIG. 7, various wireless terminals inthe system have previously established peer to peer connections, e.g.,via communications exchanges. In addition some of the wireless terminalshave established a group, e.g., via communications exchanges. In thisexample, WT A 702, WT B 704, WT C 706 and WT D 708 are members of agroup. Each wireless terminal of the group has a connection with theother members of the group. WT A 702 has connection (718, 720, 722) with(WT B 704, WT C 706, WT D 708), respectively. In addition WT B 704 hasconnection (724, 726) with (WT C 706, WT D 708), respectively; WT C 706has connection 728 with WT D 708. In addition to the group connections,WT E 710 has a peer to peer connection 730 with WT F 712, and WT G 714has a peer to peer connection with WT H 716.

WT A 702 is currently situated close to WT F 712. However WT G 714 andWT H are situated far away from the other WTs (702, 704, 706, 708, 710,712).

Drawing 800 of FIG. 8 illustrates the same wireless terminals of FIG. 7and provides additional information used to illustrate an example ofgroup traffic signaling in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.Drawing 800 illustrates exemplary uni-direction traffic flow directionconnections and corresponding associated connection identifiers.Wireless terminal A 702 has connections (818, 820, 822) directed to (WTB 704, WT C, 706, WT D 708), respectively, associated with connectionidentifiers (CID 1 819, CID 3 821, CID 2 823), respectively. Wirelessterminal E 710 has uni-direction traffic flow connection 830 associatedwith connection identifier 4 (CID 4 831). Wireless terminal G 714 hasuni-direction traffic flow connection 832 associated with connectionidentifier 5 (CID 5 833).

In the example of FIG. 8, assume that WT A would like to transmit agroup traffic signal to WT B 704, WT C 706, and WT D 708. Also assumethat WT E would like to transmit a peer to peer traffic signal to WT F712, and that WT G 714 would like to transmit a peer to peer trafficsignal to WT H 716. FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary set of air linkresources in a recurring peer to peer timing structure associated with atraffic segment, priority information associated with at least some ofthose resources and connection identifier information associated with atleast some of those resources. FIG. 10 illustrates exemplary signalingthat may be communicated using the resources of FIG. 9 in one exemplaryscenario corresponding to FIG. 8.

Drawing 901 of FIG. 9 illustrates a transmission request air linkresource 902, a transmission request response air link resource 904, apilot signaling air link resource 906, a channel quality feedback airlink resource 908 and a traffic air link resource 910. Drawing 903 ofFIG. 9 illustrates, that the various air link resources (902, 904, 906,908, 910) include a plurality of transmission units e.g., OFDMtone-symbols. Drawing 903 also illustrates that priorities areassociated with the transmission units of the transmission request airlink resource 902 and transmission request response air link resource904. In particular, in this example there are 16 transmission units inthe transmission request air link resource 902, each associated with adifferent priority, P1 through P16, where the lower priority numberrepresents higher priority, e.g., P1 represents the highest priority,P16 is the lowest priority, and P1 is higher in priority than P2, etc.Similarly, there are 16 transmission units in the transmission requestresponse air link resource 904, each associated with a differentpriority, P1 through P16.

Drawing 905 illustrates that different connection identifiers (C1, C2,C16) are associated with different transmission units of thetransmission request air link resource 902, the transmission requestresponse air link resource 904, the pilot signal air link resource 906and the channel quality feedback air link resource 908. Drawing 903 anddrawing 905, viewed in combination, illustrate the linkage betweendifferent connection identifiers and different priorities correspondingto this exemplary traffic slot.

Now consider the combination of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. The connectionassociated from WT A 702 to WT B 704 has connection identifier 1 (C1)and has priority level P6. The connection associated from WT A 702 to WTC 706 has connection identifier 3 (C3) and has priority level P16. Theconnection associated from WT A 702 to WT D 708 has connectionidentifier 2 (C2) and has priority level P11. The connection associatedfrom WT E 710 to WT F 712 has connection identifier 4 (C4) and haspriority level P4. The connection associated from WT G 714 to WT H 716has connection identifier 5 (C5) and has priority level P2.

Drawing 901 of FIG. 10 illustrates the transmission request air linkresource 902, the transmission request response air link resource 904,the pilot signaling air link resource 906, the channel quality feedbackand link resource 908 and the traffic air link resource 910. Drawing1001 of FIG. 10 illustrates exemplary signaling carried by those airlink resources.

Traffic transmission request signals are carried by the transmissionunits of the transmission request air link resource 902. A transmissionunit corresponding to connection C1 with priority P6, carries a traffictransmission request signal from WT A 702 to WT B 704, as indicated byblock 1002. A transmission unit corresponding to connection C3 withpriority P16, carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT A702 to WT C 706, as indicated by block 1004. A transmission unitcorresponding to connection C2 with priority P11, carries a traffictransmission request signal from WT A 702 to WT D 708, as indicated byblock 1006. A transmission unit corresponding to connection C4 withpriority P4, carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT E 710to WT F 712, as indicated by block 1008. A transmission unitcorresponding to connection C5 with priority P2, carries a traffictransmission request signal from WT G 714 to WT H 716, as indicated byblock 1010.

Traffic transmission request response signals, e.g., RX echo signalssignifying a positive response to the a received traffic transmissionrequest, are carried by the transmission units of the transmissionrequest response air link resource 904. A transmission unitcorresponding to connection C1 with priority P6, carries a traffictransmission request response signal from WT B 704 to WT A 702, asindicated by block 1012. A transmission unit corresponding to connectionC3 with priority P16, carries a traffic transmission request responsesignal from WT C 706 to WT A 702, as indicated by block 1014. Atransmission unit corresponding to connection C2 with priority P11,carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT D 708 toWT A 702, as indicated by block 1016. A transmission unit correspondingto connection C4 with priority P4, carries a traffic transmissionrequest response signal from WT F 712 to WT E 710, as indicated by block1018. A transmission unit corresponding to connection C5 with priorityP2, carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT H 716to WT G 714, as indicated by block 1020.

Wireless terminal A 702 has received the request response signals fromWT B 704, WT C 706 and WT D 708 to which it had sent request signals. WTA 702 also receives the request response signal from WT F 712, whichhappens to be located very close to WT A 702. WT A 702 may receive avery weak request response signal from WT H 716 or may not detect therequest response signal from WT H 716, which happens to be located veryfar away from WT A 702. Connection 4 corresponding to the WT E->WT Fconnection has priority P4 which is a higher priority than that of anyof connections 1, 2, or 3, which correspond to WT A 702. WT A 702measures the signal strength of the request response signal from WT F712 and makes a transmitter yielding decision as a function of themeasurement. In this example, assume that the measurement exceeds ayielding threshold level and WT A 702 decides to yield the traffictransmission resource and refrain from transmitting in this traffictransmission segment.

Continuing with the example, WT E 710, has received the request responsesignal from WT F 712, and decides to proceed with its traffictransmission. Similarly, WT G 714 has received the request responsesignal from WT H 712 and decides to proceed with its traffictransmission. WT E 710 generates and transmits a pilot signal using aresource of the pilot signal air link resource 906 as indicated by block1022. WT G 714 generates and transmits a pilot signal using a resourceof the pilot signal air link resource 906 as indicated by block 1024. WTF 712 receives and measures the pilot signal from WT E 710, generateschannel quality feedback information, e.g., information characterizingthe channel between WT E 710 and WT F 712 such as information indicatinga maximum data rate supported for traffic signaling, and transmits thechannel quality feedback information to WT E 710 as indicated by block1026. WT H 716 receives and measures the pilot signal from WT G 714,generates channel quality feedback information, e.g., informationcharacterizing the channel between WT G 714 and WT H 716 such asinformation indicating a maximum data rate supported for trafficsignaling, and transmits the channel quality feedback information to WTG 714 as indicated by block 1028.

WT E 710 receives and processes the channel quality feedback informationfrom WT F 712, determines a data rate for traffic signaling, generatestraffic signals and transmits the peer to peer traffic signals to WT F712 using the traffic air link resource 910, e.g. traffic segment. WT G714 receives and processes the channel quality feedback information fromWT H 716, determines a data rate for traffic signaling, generatestraffic signals and transmits the peer to peer traffic signals to WT H716 using the traffic air link resource 910, e.g. traffic segment.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary set of air link resources in arecurring peer to peer timing structure associated with a trafficsegment, priority information associated with at least some of thoseresources and connection identifier information associated with at leastsome of those resources. FIG. 12 illustrates exemplary signaling thatmay be communicated using the resources of FIG. 11 in another exemplaryscenario corresponding to FIG. 8.

Drawing 1101 of FIG. 11 illustrates a transmission request air linkresource 1102, a transmission request response air link resource 1104, apilot signaling air link resource 1106, a channel quality feedback airlink resource 1108 and a traffic air link resource 1110. Drawing 1103 ofFIG. 11 illustrates, that the various air link resources (1102, 1104,1106, 1108, 1110) include a plurality of transmission units, e.g., OFDMtone-symbols. Drawing 1103 also illustrates that priorities areassociated with the transmission units of the transmission request airlink resource 1102 and transmission request response air link resource1104. In particular, in this example there are 16 transmission units inthe transmission request air link resource 1102, each associated with adifferent priority, P1 through P16, where the lower priority numberrepresents higher priority, e.g., P1 represents the highest priority,P16 is the lowest priority, and P1 is higher in priority than P2, etc.Similarly, there are 16 transmission units in the transmission requestresponse air link resource 1104, each associated with a differentpriority, P1 through P16.

Drawing 1105 illustrates that different connection identifiers (C1, C2,C16) are associated with different transmission units of thetransmission request air link resource 1102, the transmission requestresponse air link resource 1104, the pilot signal air link resource 1106and the channel quality feedback air link resource 1108. Drawing 1103and drawing 1105, viewed in combination, illustrate the linkage betweendifferent connection identifiers and different priorities correspondingto this exemplary traffic slot.

Now consider the combination of FIGS. 8, 11, and 12. The connectionassociated from WT A 702 to WT B 704 has connection identifier 1 (C1)and has priority level P6. The connection associated from WT A 702 to WTC 706 has connection identifier 3 (C3) and has priority level P16. Theconnection associated from WT A 702 to WT D 708 has connectionidentifier 2 (C2) and has priority level P11. The connection associatedfrom WT E 710 to WT F 712 has connection identifier 4 (C4) and haspriority level P15. The connection associated from WT G 714 to WT H 716has connection identifier 5 (C5) and has priority level P2.

Drawing 1101 of FIG. 12 illustrates the transmission request air linkresource 1102, the transmission request response air link resource 1104,the pilot signaling air link resource 1106, the channel quality feedbackand link resource 1108 and the traffic air link resource 1110. Drawing1201 of FIG. 12 illustrates exemplary signaling carried by those airlink resources.

Traffic transmission request signals are carried by the transmissionunits of the transmission request air link resource 1102. A transmissionunit corresponding to connection C1 with priority P6, carries a traffictransmission request signal from WT A 702 to WT B 704, as indicated byblock 1202. A transmission unit corresponding to connection C3 withpriority P16, carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT A702 to WT C 706, as indicated by block 1204. A transmission unitcorresponding to connection C2 with priority P11, carries a traffictransmission request signal from WT A 702 to WT D 708, as indicated byblock 1206. A transmission unit corresponding to connection C4 withpriority P15, carries a traffic transmission request signal from WT E710 to WT F 712, as indicated by block 1208. A transmission unitcorresponding to connection C5 with priority P2, carries a traffictransmission request signal from WT G 714 to WT H 716, as indicated byblock 1210.

Traffic transmission request response signals, e.g., RX echo signalssignifying a positive response to a received traffic transmissionrequest, are carried by the transmission units of the transmissionrequest response air link resource 1104. A transmission unitcorresponding to connection C1 with priority P6, carries a traffictransmission request response signal from WT B 704 to WT A 702, asindicated by block 1212. A transmission unit corresponding to connectionC3 with priority P16, carries a traffic transmission request responsesignal from WT C 706 to WT A 702, as indicated by block 1214. Atransmission unit corresponding to connection C2 with priority P11,carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT D 708 toWT A 702, as indicated by block 1216. A transmission unit correspondingto connection C4 with priority P15, carries a traffic transmissionrequest response signal from WT F 712 to WT E 710, as indicated by block1218. A transmission unit corresponding to connection C5 with priorityP2, carries a traffic transmission request response signal from WT H 716to WT G 714, as indicated by block 1220.

Wireless terminal A 702 has received the request response signals fromWT B 704, WT C 706 and WT D 708 to which it had sent request signals. WTA 702 also receives the request response signal from WT F 712, whichhappens to be located very close to WT A 702. WT A 702 may receive avery weak request response signal from WT H 716 or may not detect therequest response signal from WT H 716, which happens to be located veryfar away from WT A 702. Connection 4 corresponding to the WT E->WT Fconnection has priority P15 which is a lower priority than that of thehighest priority connection in the set of the group which correspond toWT A 702, e.g., connection 1 has priority P6. Therefore WT A 702 willnot yield to lower priority connection 4. However, connection 5 betweenWT G 714 and WT H 716 has priority P2 which is a higher priority thanthat of connection 1 which is P6. Therefore WT A 702 measures the signalstrength of the request response signal from WT H 716, if it can detectthe signal, and makes a transmitter yielding decision as a function ofthe measurement. In this example, assume that the measurement is below ayielding threshold level and WT A 702 decides to proceed with thetraffic transmission resource and transmit in this traffic transmissionsegment.

Assume that WT A 702 and WT G 714 have decided to proceed with traffictransmission. WT A 710 generates and transmits a pilot signal using aresource of the pilot signal air link resource 1208 as indicated byblock 1222. Note that WT A 702, in this exemplary embodiment, onlytransmits one pilot signal which is intended to be utilized by themembers of its group. In this example, the pilot signal is transmittedusing the pilot signal air link resource portion associated with thehighest priority connection of the group. WT G 714 generates andtransmits a pilot signal using a resource of the pilot signal air linkresource 908 as indicated by block 1224. WT B 704 receives and measuresthe pilot signal from WT A 702, generates channel quality feedbackinformation, e.g., information characterizing the channel between WT A702 and WT B 704 such as information indicating a maximum data ratesupported for traffic signaling, and transmits the channel qualityfeedback information to WT A 702 as indicated by block 1226. WT C 706receives and measures the pilot signal from WT A 702, generates channelquality feedback information, e.g., information characterizing thechannel between WT A 702 and WT C 706 such as information indicating amaximum data rate supported for traffic signaling, and transmits thechannel quality feedback information to WT A 702 as indicated by block1228. WT D 708 receives and measures the pilot signal from WT A 702,generates channel quality feedback information, e.g., informationcharacterizing the channel between WT A 702 and WT D 708 such asinformation indicating a maximum data rate supported for trafficsignaling, and transmits the channel quality feedback information to WTA 702 as indicated by block 1230. WT H 716 receives and measures thepilot signal from WT G 714, generates channel quality feedbackinformation, e.g., information characterizing the channel between WT G714 and WT H 716 such as information indicating a maximum data ratesupported for traffic signaling, and transmits the channel qualityfeedback information to WT G 714 as indicated by block 1232.

WT A 702 receives and processes the channel quality feedback informationfrom WT B 704, WT C 706 and WT D 708, determines a data rate for trafficsignaling, e.g., the lowest of three reported supported rates, generatesgroup traffic signals conveying traffic data in accordance with thedetermined rate, and transmits the group traffic signals directed to WTB 704, WT C 706 and WT D 708 using the traffic air link resource 1110,e.g. traffic segment. WT G 714 receives and processes the channelquality feedback information from WT H 716, determines a data rate fortraffic signaling, generates traffic signals and transmits the peer topeer traffic signals to WT H 716 using the traffic air link resource1110, e.g. traffic segment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart 1300 of an exemplary method of operating a peerto peer communications device to implement group communications.Operation starts in step 1302, where the peer to peer communicationsdevice is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step 1304. In step1304 the peer to peer communications device performs a communicationsexchange with potential group members to establish membership in thegroup. The group is, e.g., a group of peer to peer communicationsdevices. Operation proceeds from step 1304 to step 1306. In step 1306the peer to peer communications device determines a set ofcommunications resources to be used by group communications including aset of connection identifiers corresponding to connections betweendifferent members of the group. Operation proceeds from step 1306 tostep 1308.

In step 1308 the peer to peer communications device transmits data tomembers of the group in a first signal directed to said group.Transmitting data to members of the group in a first signal includestransmitting the first signal using a communications resourcecorresponding to the communications connections. The data transmissionresource is common for multiple connections of the group, e.g., atraffic segment carries a group cast traffic signal intended forreception by group members. In some embodiments, the first signal iscommunicated using a set of OFDM tone-symbols in a data trafficinterval. In various embodiments, the transmitting of data to members ofthe group is performed at a data rate determined by informationcorresponding to each of the members of the group.

Then, in step 1310 the peer to peer communications device monitors foracknowledgements from the members of the group indicating the data wasreceived. In some embodiments, the monitoring for acknowledgmentsincludes monitoring a plurality of individual communications resources,each of the plurality of individual communications resources beingdedicated to one of the group members for the purposes of sendingacknowledgements. Operation proceeds from step 1310 to step 1312.

In step 1312 the peer to peer communications device determines whetheror not acknowledgments were received from each of the member of groupindicating successful communication of the data in the first signal. Ifacknowledgments were received from each of the members of the group thenoperation proceeds to step 1320; otherwise, operation proceeds from step1312 to step 1314.

In step 1314, the peer to peer communications device re-transmits thedata in a second signal directed to a subset of the group, said subsetincluding members of the group from which acknowledgments were notreceived and excluding at least one member of the group from which anacknowledgment was received. Re-transmitting data to members of thesubset group in the second signal includes transmitting the secondsignal using a communications resource corresponding to communicationsconnections of the subset. In some embodiments, the retransmitting ofdata is performed at a data rate determined by information correspondingto members of the subset of the group. In some such embodiments theinformation corresponding to the members of the subset is link qualityfeedback information.

Then, in step 1316, the peer to peer communications device monitors foracknowledgments of successful communication of said data from the secondsignal from members of the subset of the group. In some embodiments,monitoring for acknowledgements of successful communication of said datafrom the second signal does not involve monitoring for acknowledgmentsfrom members of said group which are not members of the subset.

Operation proceeds from step 1316 to step 1320. In step 1320 the peer topeer communications device determines whether or not it has more data totransmit to members of the group. If it does not have more data totransmit, then operation proceeds to step 1322. However; if the peer topeer communications device does have additional data to communicate,then operation proceeds from step 1320 to the input of step 1308.

FIG. 14 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 1400, e.g., apeer to peer mobile node, supporting group communications in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment. Communications device 1400 includes awireless receiver module 1402, a wireless transmitter module 1404, userI/O devices 1408, a processor 1406, and memory 1410 coupled together viaa bus 1412 over which the various elements may interchange data andinformation. In some embodiments, the communication device 1400 alsoincludes a network interface 1407 which couples the communicationsdevice 1400, e.g., via a backhaul network, to network nodes and/or theInternet.

Memory 1410 includes routines 1418 and data/information 1420. Theprocessor 1406, e.g., a CPU, executes the routines 1418 and uses thedata/information 1420 in memory 1410 to control the operation of thecommunications device 1400 and implement methods, e.g., the method offlowchart 1300 of FIG. 13.

Wireless receiver module 1402, e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA receiver, iscoupled to receive antenna 1414 via which the communications device 1400receives signals from other communications devices. Received signalsinclude, e.g., group membership establishment signals, channel qualityfeedback signals, acknowledgment signals in response to an initial grouptraffic data signal, and acknowledgments in response to a retransmittedtraffic data signal.

Wireless transmitter module 1404, e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA transmitter,is coupled to transmit antenna 1416 via which the communications device1400 transmits signals to other communications devices, e.g., to otherpeer to peer devices which are members of a group to which it belongsand/or to other communications device which are potential members of agroup. Transmitted signals include, e.g., group membership establishmentsignals, an initial group traffic signal directed to members of a groupto which device 1400 belongs, and a re-transmission traffic signaldirected to a subset of members of the group to which it belongs. Insome embodiments, the same antenna is used for transmitter and receiver.

User I/O devices 1408 include, e.g., a microphone, a speaker, akeyboard, a keypad, a camera, switches, a display, etc. User I/O devices1408 allow an operator of communications device 1400 to inputdata/information, access output data/information, and control at leastsome functions of the communications device 1400.

Routines 1418 include a communications routine 1422 and control routines1424. The communications routine 1422 implements the variouscommunications protocols used by the communications device 1400. Controlroutines 1424 include a group signaling control module 1426, anacknowledgment monitoring module 1428, a re-transmission control module1430, a re-transmission acknowledgement module 1432, a re-transmissionsub-set identification module 1434, an initial transmission data ratedetermination module 1436, a re-transmission data rate determinationmodule 1438, a group establishment module 1440 and a resourcedetermination module 1442.

Data/information 1420 includes timing structure information 1444,traffic data to be transmitted 1461, first signal information 1462,second signal information 1464, group membership information 1466, groupsubset information 1468, determined initial data rate 1470, determinedre-transmit data rate 1472, group resources information 1474, detectedacknowledgments to the first signal 1476, detected acknowledgements tothe second signal 1478, group channel quality feedback information 1480,and group subset channel quality feedback information 1482.

Timing structure information 1444 includes information corresponding toa plurality of intervals (interval 1 information 1446, . . . , intervalN information 1448) in a recurring peer to peer timing structure.Interval 1 information 1446 includes transmission request air linkresource information 1450, transmission request response air linkresource information 1452, pilot signaling air link resource information1454, rate signaling air link resource information 1456, traffic airlink resource information 1458, and traffic acknowledgment air linkresource information 1460. Transmission request air link resourceinformation 1450 includes information identifying a first traffictransmission request block including a plurality of individualtransmission units associated with different connection identifiers andassociated with different priority levels in the block. Transmissionrequest response air link resource information 1452 includes informationidentifying a first traffic transmission request response blockincluding a plurality of individual transmission units associated withdifferent connection identifiers and associated with different prioritylevels in the block. Pilot signaling air link resource information 1454includes information identifying resources to be used to carry pilotsignals including a plurality of individual resources associated withdifferent connection identifiers. Rate signaling air link resourceinformation 1456 includes information identifying individual resourcesassociated with connection identifiers to be used to carry channelfeedback information in response to a received pilot signal. Traffic airlink resource information 1458 includes information identifying a datatransmission block, e.g. a traffic segment, to be used to carry trafficsignals. The traffic air link resource identified by information 1458can be, and sometimes is, used to carry an initial group traffic signal,e.g., a first signal, directed to each of the other members of a groupto which communications device 1400 belongs. The traffic air linkresource identified by information 1458 can be, and sometimes is, usedto carry re-transmitted traffic data, e.g., a second signal, directed toa subset of members of the group to which communications device 1400belongs. Traffic acknowledgment air link resource information 1460identifies segments to be used to carry traffic acknowledgments fromgroup members to which a traffic signal in the corresponding air linkresource of information 1458 was directed. In some embodiments,dedicated acknowledgment segments are associated with connectionidentifiers and/or device identifiers, e.g., in accordance with storedtiming and/or frequency structure information. In some otherembodiments, a traffic acknowledgement segment is a shared resource, andthe communications device sending the acknowledgment includesinformation used to identify the source of the acknowledgment. In someembodiments, the information used to identify the source of theacknowledgment enables a probabilistic identification of the source,e.g., a portion of an identifier is conveyed in the acknowledgmentsignal.

Group signaling control module 1426 controls the wireless transmittermodule 1404 to transmit data to members of a group in a first signaldirected to said group. For example, the data to be transmitted istraffic data to be transmitted 1461 which is carried by the first signalcorresponding to first signal information 1462, and the first signal isdirected to communications devices identified by group membershipinformation 1466.

Acknowledgment monitoring module 1428 monitors for acknowledgments frommembers of a group indicating that data was received. For example,acknowledgment monitoring module 1428 monitors for trafficacknowledgment signals from communications devices identified by groupmembership information 1466 after having transmitted a first signal,which is an initial group data traffic signal intended for members ofthe group to which device 1400 belongs. Thus, although the first signalis transmitted as a signal directed to and intended to be recovered by aplurality of communications device, the acknowledgment monitoring module1428 is attempting to recover individual acknowledgements from each ofthe group members to which the first signal was directed. This approachis in contrast to typical multi-cast implementations where the devicetransmitting the multi-cast signal does not monitor for or expect torecovery acknowledgment responses. Detected acknowledgments to firstsignal 1476 is an output of acknowledgment monitoring module 1428.

In some embodiments, the acknowledgement monitoring module 1428 monitorsfor acknowledgments from a plurality of individual communicationsresources, each of the plurality of individual communications resourcesbeing dedicated to one or the group members for the purposes of sendingacknowledgments. In other embodiments, the communication resources usedfor transmitting acknowledgements are shared resources, and a devicesending a traffic acknowledgment sends an acknowledgment signal usingone of the shared resources, and the acknowledgment signal includes somedevice identification information. In some such embodiments, the deviceidentification included provides information to make a probabilisticidentification, but does not provide enough information to perform acertain identification, e.g., a truncated device identifier iscommunicated in the acknowledgment signal.

Re-transmission control module 1430 controls the wireless transmittermodule 1404 to re-transmit data in a second signal directed to a subsetof a group, the subset of the group including members of the group fromwhich acknowledgments were not received and excluding at least onemember of the group from which an acknowledgment was received. Forexample, consider that the first signal which conveyed traffic data 1461was positively acknowledged by some of the members of the groupidentified by information 1466. Group subset information 1468 identifiesgroup members which did not communicate a positive acknowledgment of thefirst signal. Therefore the re-transmission control module 1430 controlsthe second signal identified by information 1464, which also conveystraffic data 1461 to be transmitted, where the second signal is directedto members of the subset.

In some embodiments, the first signal is communicated using a set ofOFDM tone symbols in a first data traffic interval, and the secondsignal is communicated using a set of OFDM tone-symbols in a second datatraffic interval.

Re-transmission acknowledgment module 1432 monitors for acknowledgmentsof successful communication of data from a second signal from members ofa subset of a group. For example, re-transmission acknowledgment modulemonitors for acknowledgments to the second signal from the membersidentified by group subset information 1468. Detected acknowledgments tothe second signal 1478 is an output of re-transmission acknowledgmentmodule 1432.

Re-transmission subset identification module 1434 identifies members ofa subset of a group, the identified members being members from which thecommunications device 1400 has not received a positive acknowledgment inresponse to a first signal, e.g., a group data signal. Detectedacknowledgments to first signal 1476 and group membership information1466 are inputs to re-transmission subset identification module 1434,while group sub-set information 1468 is an output of identificationmodule 1434. In some embodiments, re-transmission acknowledgment module1432 limits its monitoring to members from the subset.

Initial transmission data rate determination module 1436 determines thedata rate to be used to transmit data to members of a group as afunction of information corresponding to each of the members of thegroup. The information corresponding to each of the members of the groupis, e.g., link quality feedback information corresponding to a pluralityof links between the communications device 1400 and each of the othermembers of the group. Group channel quality feedback information 1480comprising feedback reports, e.g., information communicating a maximumtraffic data rate supported on a link, from each of the other members ofthe group is used an input to initial transmission data ratedetermination module 1436, while determined initial data rate 1470 is anoutput of module 1436. In some embodiments, the initial transmissiondata rate determination module 1436 determines the data rate to use forthe first signal, e.g., an initial group data transmission signal, whichsupports the link with the lowest quality from among the group.

Re-transmission data rate determination module 1438 determines the datarate to be used to for data to be re-transmitted to members of anidentified subset of the group as a function of informationcorresponding to members of the subset of the group. The informationcorresponding to members of the subset of the group is, e.g., linkquality feedback information corresponding to a plurality of linksbetween the communications device 1400 and each of the members of thesubset of group. Group subset channel quality information 1482comprising feedback reports, e.g., information communicating a maximumtraffic data rate supported on a link, from each of the members of thesubset of the group is used an input to re-transmission data ratedetermination module 1438, while determined re-transmit data rate 1472is an output of module 1438. In some embodiments, the re-transmissiondata rate determination module 1438 determines the data rate to use forthe second signal, e.g., a re-transmission signal communicating at leastsome traffic data previously transmitted but not acknowledged by membersof the subset, which supports the link with the lowest quality fromamong members of subset of the group.

In some embodiments, link quality information is updated between thefirst signal, e.g., group data signal, and second signal, e.g.,re-transmission data signal. For example, prior to the first signaltransmission, the communications device 1400 transmitted a first pilotsignal and received a first set of feedback reports, and prior totransmission of the second signal transmission, the communicationsdevice 1400 transmitted a second pilot signal and received a second setof feedback reports.

In some embodiments, different determined data rates are associated withdifferent transmission power levels. In some embodiments, differentdetermined data rates are associated with different coding levels,rates, and/or schemes.

Group establishment module 1440 participates in communications exchangeswith potential group members to establish membership in a group. Groupmembership information 1466 includes information generated by groupestablishment, e.g., a list of group members admitted to the group.

Resource determination module 1442 determines a set of communicationsresources to be used by group communications. In some embodiments, thedetermined set of communications resources includes a set of connectionidentifiers corresponding to connections between different members of agroup of which communications device 1400 is a member. Group resourcesinformation 1474 is an output of resources establishment module 1442 andincludes resource information associated with the group, e.g.,connection identifiers, transmission request segments, transmissionrequest response segments, pilot signaling segments, channel qualityfeedback segments, traffic segments, and traffic acknowledgmentsegments. For example corresponding to a particular interval in thetiming structure and a particular connection identifier whichcorresponds to a connection between device 1400 and another groupmember, there is a dedicated transmission request segment in information1450, a dedicated transmission request response segment in information1452, a dedicated pilot signaling segment in information 1454, adedicated channel quality feedback segment in information 1456, and adedicated traffic acknowledgment segment in information 1460, whichcorrespond to a traffic segment of information 1458.

FIG. 15 is a drawing 1500 of exemplary communications devices in acommunications network which have established a group. The exemplarycommunications devices (wireless terminal A 1502, wireless terminal B1504, wireless terminal C 1506, WT D 1508) are, e.g., mobile peer topeer communications devices supporting group communications. Thewireless terminals (1502, 1504, 1506, 1508) are, e.g., wirelessterminals such as exemplary wireless terminal 1400 of FIG. 14 and/orwireless terminals implemented to perform the method of flowchart 1300of FIG. 13. Connections have been established for the purpose oftransmitting traffic data signals. The connections include: connection1510 between WT A 1502 and WT B 1504 which is associated with connectionidentifier 1 1516, connection 1512 between wireless terminal A 1502 andWT C 1506 which is associated with connection identifier 3 1518, andconnection 1514 between wireless terminal A 1502 and WT D 1508 which isassociated with connection identifier 2 1520. In this example, assumethat wireless terminal A 1502 has traffic data that it would like totransmit as a group data signal to each of other members of the group(WT B 1504, WT C 1506, WT D 1508).

FIG. 16 includes a drawing 1600 illustrating exemplary air linkresources in an exemplary recurring timing structure and a drawing 1650which illustrating exemplary signaling carried those air link resources.Drawing 1600 includes a vertical axis 1602 representing frequency and ahorizontal axis 1603 representing time. The exemplary air link resourcesinclude: pilot signal air link resource for slot 1 1604, channel qualityfeedback air link resource for slot 1 1606, traffic air link resourcefor slot 1 1608, traffic acknowledgment air link resources for slot 11610, pilot signal air link resource for slot 2 1612, channel qualityfeedback air link resource for slot 2 1614, traffic air link resourcefor slot 2 1616, and traffic acknowledgment air link resources for slot2 1618. Other air link resources are included in the timing structuresuch as traffic transmission request air link resources and traffictransmission request response air link resources. In some embodiments,transmission units within at least some of air link resources arededicated to be used for a particular connection associated with aparticular connection identifier.

Assume that wireless terminal A 1502 desires to transmit the sametraffic data to the other members of the previously established groupincluding WT A 1502, WT B 1504, WT C 1506 and WT D 1508. Assume that WTA 1502 has transmitted transmission request signals to WT B 1504, WT C1506 and WT D 1508. Further assume that WT B 1504, WT C 1506 and WT D1508 have transmitted positive transmission request response signals toWT A 1502, and that WT A 1502 has decided to proceed with the group datatransmission in traffic slot 1.

Wireless terminal A generates and transmits a pilot signal 1652 in airlink in a segment of pilot signal air link resource 1604. The pilotsignal 1652 is intended to be received and measured by WT B 1504, WT C1506 and WT D 1508. Wireless terminals (WT B 1504, WT C 1506, WT D 1508)receive and measure the pilot signal, and then they generate channelquality feedback reports which are conveyed back to WT A 1502 viasignals (1654, 1656, 1658), respectively, using segments of channelquality feedback air link resource 1606. WT A 1502 receives the ratereports from WT B 1504, WT C 1506 and WT C 1508. For example, the ratereport from WT B indicates that the link between WT A and WT B supportsdata rate level 3, while the rate report from WT C indicates that thelink between WT A and WT C supports data rate level 1, while the ratereport from WT D indicates that the link between WT A and WT D supportsdata rate level 2, where data rate level 1 is a lower data rate thandata rate level 2 and where data rate level 2 is a lower data rate thandata rate level 3.

Wireless terminal A 1502 determines to transmit the group data signal ata data rate supported by each of the links, so wireless terminal A 1502decides to generate and transmit group traffic data signal 1660 whichcommunicates the traffic data at data rate level 1. The group datatraffic signal 1660 is transmitted using a transmission segment oftraffic air link resource 1608.

Now assume that WT B 1504 and WT C 1506 successfully receive signal 1660and successfully recover the data being communicated. WT B 1504generates and transmits a traffic acknowledgment signal 1662 to WT A1502 using a segment of traffic acknowledgment air link resources 1610.WT C 1506 generates and transmits a traffic acknowledgment signal 1664to WT A 1502 using a segment of traffic acknowledgment air linkresources 1610.

However, assume that wireless terminal D 1608 is unsuccessful in thereception of signal 1660 and/or unsuccessful in the recovery of the databeing communicated in signal 1660, e.g., due to an obstruction in thecommunications path during the time of transmission of group trafficsignal 1660, due to a repositioning of the receive antenna direction ofWT D 1508, and/or due to local interference surging during the time ofthe transmission of group traffic signal 1660. Therefore WT D 1508 doesnot transmit an acknowledgment signal in traffic acknowledgment air linkresource 1610.

WT A 1502 monitors for traffic acknowledgments from each of the othermembers of its group to which it directed group traffic signal 1660.Since it does not receive a positive acknowledgment from WT D 1508, WT Adecides to retransmit the traffic data. WT A 1502 sends pilot signal1666 in pilot signal air link resource 1612. Wireless terminal D 1508responds with a rate report signal 1668 in channel quality feedback airlink resource 1614. WT A 1504 determines the data rate to use for thetraffic retransmission signal as a function of the received rate reportsignal 1668 information. WT A 1504 generates and transmits trafficsignal 1670 to a group subset using traffic air link resource 1616, thegroup subset including WT D 1508 but not including group members WT B1604 and WT C 1606. In this slot, WT D 1508 successfully receives andrecovers the traffic data being communicated. WT D 1508 generates andtransmits acknowledgment signal 1672 to WT A 1618 using trafficacknowledgment air link resource 1618. WT A 1502 monitors for anddetects the acknowledgment signal from WT D 1508 confirming successfulcommunication of the traffic data to WT D 1508. Now the traffic data hasbeen successfully communicated to each of the members of the group towhich it was directed.

FIG. 17, comprising the combination of FIG. 17A, FIG. 17B and FIG. 17C,is a flowchart 1700 of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.Operation of the exemplary method starts in step 1702, where the firstcommunications device is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step1704 and step 1706. In step 1704, which is performed on an ongoingbasis, the first communications device determines whether or not itwants to join and/or form a group. If it does want to join and/or form agroup, then operation proceeds from step 1704 to step 1708; otherwise,operation proceeds from step 1704, back to the input of step 1704.

In step 1708, the first communications device stores group membershipinformation indicating the members of a group to which the firstcommunications device belongs. Operation proceeds from step 1708 to step1710, in which the first communications device acquires transmissionrequest resources. In some embodiments, the acquired transmissionrequest resources include a single transmission request resource foreach of a plurality of transmission request time periods, e.g., a singleOFDM tone-symbol for each of a plurality of transmission request timeperiods. Then, in step 1712 the first communications device communicatesto other members of the group information indicating that the acquiredtransmission request resources are to by used by the firstcommunications device as transmission request resources corresponding tothe group. Operation proceeds from step 1712 to step 1713. In step 1713,the first communications device receives from other members of the groupinformation indicating transmission request response resources to beused by other members of the group as group transmission requestresponse resources. Operation proceeds from step 1713 to connecting nodeA 1718.

Returning to step 1706, in step 1706 which is performed on an ongoingbasis, the first communications device determines whether or not thefirst communications device wants to establish a peer to peer connectionwith a second communications device. If the first communications devicewants to establish a peer to peer connection with a secondcommunications device, then operation proceeds from step 1706 to step1714; otherwise, operation proceeds from the output step 1706 to theinput of step 1706.

In step 1714, the first communications device stores peer to peerconnection information indicating a peer to peer communicationsconnection with a second device. In some embodiments, the secondcommunications device may be, and sometimes is, a member of the group,and the first communications device is a member of the group andmaintains a peer to peer connection with the second device at the sametime. Then in step 1716 the first communications device acquirestransmission request resources and transmission request responseresources correspond to the connection. Operation proceeds from step1716 to connecting node A 1718.

From connecting node A 1718, operation proceeds to step 1720. In step1720, the first communications device determines if it desires totransmit data to the group and to the second device. If it does havedata to be transmitted to the group and data to be transmitted to thesecond communications device, then operation proceeds from step 1720 tostep 1722; otherwise operation proceeds from step 1720 to step 1724.

In step 1722 the first communications device determines whether or notthe group request priority is higher than the peer to peer connectionrequest priority. If the group request priority is higher, thenoperation proceeds from step 1722 to step 1728; otherwise, operationproceeds from step 1722 to step 1738.

Returning to step 1724, in step 1724 the first communications devicedecides whether it desires to transmit data to the group to which itbelongs. If it does, then operation proceeds from step 1724 to step1728; otherwise, operation proceeds from step 1724 to step 1726. In step1726 the first communications device decides if it desires to transmitdata to the second communications device over the established peer topeer connection. If the first device desires to transmit data to thesecond device, then operation proceeds from step 1726 to step 1738;otherwise, operation proceeds from step 1726 to connecting node B 1746.

Returning to step 1728, in step 1728 the first communications devicetransmits during a first period of time a transmission request used tosignal an intent to transmit to members of said group on a grouptransmission request resource corresponding to the first communicationsdevice. In some embodiments, the group transmission request resourcecorresponding to the first communications device is part of a set oftransmission request resources also including connection basedtransmission request resources. Then, in step 1730 the firstcommunications device monitors to detect transmission request responsesin group transmission request response resources corresponding toindividual members of the group. Operation proceeds from step 1730 tostep 1732.

In step 1732 the first communications device determines whether or notit has detected at least one request response from a group member. Ifthe first communications device has detected at least one requestresponse from a group member, then operation proceeds from step 1732 tostep 1734; otherwise, operation proceeds from step 1732 to connectingnode C 1736. In step 1734 the first communications device transmitstraffic data using traffic resources corresponding to the transmittedgroup transmission request. Operation proceeds from step 1734 toconnecting node C 1736.

Returning to step 1738, in step 1738 the first communications devicetransmits during a second period of time in a transmission requestresource corresponding to the peer to peer connection a request totransmit data to the second communication device over the peer to peerconnection. Operation proceeds from step 1738 to step 1740.

In step 1740 the first communications device monitors to detect atransmission request response in a transmission request responseresource corresponding to the peer to peer connection. Operationproceeds from step 1740 to step 1742. In step 1742, the firstcommunications device determines whether or not it has detected arequest response from the second device. If the first communicationsdevice has detected a request response from the second device, thenoperation proceeds from step 1742 to step 1744; otherwise, operationproceeds from step 1742 to connecting node C 1736. In step 1744 thefirst communications device transmits traffic data using traffictransmission resources corresponding to the transmitted peer to peertransmission request. Operation proceeds from step 1744 to connectingnode C 1736.

Returning to connecting node B 1746, operation proceeds from connectingnode B 1746 to step 1748 and step 1752. In step 1748 the firstcommunications device monitors for group transmission request from othermembers of the group. Step 1748 may, and sometimes does, includessub-step 1750, in which the first communications device receives duringa second period of time a group transmission request from another memberof said group on a group transmission request resource corresponding tosaid another member.

Returning to step 1752, in step 1752 the first communications devicemonitors for a transmission request from the second device correspondingto the peer to peer connection. Step 1752 may, and sometimes does,include sub-step 1754. In sub-step 1754 the second communications devicereceives during a second period of time a transmission request from thesecond device on a transmission request resource corresponding to thesecond device. Operation proceeds from step 1748 and/or step 1752 tostep 1756.

In step 1756 the first communications device determines if both a grouptransmission request from a member of the group to which the firstcommunications device belongs was received and a peer to peertransmission request from the second communications device with whichthe first communications device has a peer to peer to peer connectionwas received. If both were received, then operation proceeds from step1756 to step 1758; otherwise, operation proceeds from step 1756 to step1762.

Returning to step 1758, in step 1758 the first communication deviceperforms a priority determination. Then in step 1760, the firstcommunications device proceeds depending upon the prioritydetermination. If the group request has higher priority, then operationproceeds from step 1760 to step 1764; however, if the requestcorresponding to the peer to peer connection with the second device hashigher priority, then operation proceeds from step 1760 to step 1766.

Returning to step 1762, in step 1762, the first communications devicedetermines if a group request was detected. If a group request wasdetected, operation proceeds from step 1762 to step 1764; otherwise,operation proceeds from step 1762 to step 1763. In step 1763, the firstcommunications device determines if a transmission request was receivedfrom the second communications device corresponding to the peer to peerconnection. If a request was received, then operation proceeds from step1763 to step 1766; otherwise, operation proceeds from step 1763 toconnecting node C 1772.

Returning to step 1764, in step 1764 the first communications devicetransmits a group transmission request response on a group transmissionrequest response resource corresponding to the first communicationsdevice. Then in step 1768, the first communications device receivestraffic data using traffic resources corresponding to the detected grouptransmission request. Operation proceeds from step 1768 to connectingnode C 1772.

Returning to step 1766, in step 1766 the first communications devicetransmits a peer to peer transmission request response on a transmissionrequest response resource corresponding to the peer to peer connectionwith the second device. Then, in step 1770 the first communicationsdevice receives traffic data using traffic transmission resourcescorresponding to the detected transmission request response from thesecond device corresponding to the peer to peer connection. Operationproceeds from step 1770 to connecting node C 1772.

From connecting node C 1772, operation proceeds to the input of step1720, e.g., for consideration as to whether or not the firstcommunications device desires to transmit in a subsequent slot.

FIG. 18 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 1800, e.g., apeer to peer mobile node, supporting group communications and supportingpeer to peer communications. In accordance with a feature of thisexemplary embodiment different approaches are used for groupcommunications and for peer to peer connection communications, e.g.,regarding resource allocation and usage for traffic transmissionrequest/response signaling for group communications as opposed to peerto peer connection transmission request/response signaling. For groupcommunications, a resource, e.g., a traffic transmission request unit,is associated with a device of the group, while for peer to peercommunications, a resource, e.g., a traffic transmission request unit,is associated with a connection identifier associated with the twodevices of the peer to peer connection. In some embodiments, aparticular resource, e.g., a traffic transmission request unit in atiming/frequency structure may during some times be associated with agroup member device, while at other times the resource may be associatedwith a peer to peer connection. Thus in such as embodiment, the balancebetween resource allocation to groups and to peer connections may bedynamically varied to accommodate current needs. In other embodiments,some resources may be dedicated for group usage while other resourcesmay be dedicated for peer to peer connection usage.

Communications device 1800 includes a wireless receiver module 1802, awireless transmitter module 1804, user I/O devices 1808, a processor1806, and a memory 1810 coupled together via a bus 1812 over which thevarious elements may interchange data and information. In someembodiments, communications device 1800 includes a network interface1807 which is also coupled to the bus 1812. The network interface 1807,where implemented, allows communications device 1800 to couple tonetwork nodes and/or the Internet, e.g., via a wired backhaul network.

Memory 1810 includes routines 1818 and data/information 1820. Theprocessor 1806, e.g., a CPU, executes the routines 1818 and uses thedata/information 1820 in memory 1810 to control the operation of thecommunications device 1800 and implement methods, e.g., the method offlowchart 1700 of FIG. 17.

Wireless receiver module 1802, e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA receiver, iscoupled to receive antenna 1814, via which the communications device1800 receives signals, e.g., signals 1850, from other communicationsdevices. Received signals include, e.g., signals communicating: groupmembership information, group resource allocation information, a groupmember traffic transmission request, a group member traffic transmissionrequest response, traffic data from a group member, peer to peerconnection information, peer to peer connection resource information, apeer to peer connection traffic transmission request, a peer to peerconnection traffic transmission request response, and peer to peertraffic data.

Wireless transmitter module 1804, e.g., an OFDM and/or CDMA transmitter,is coupled to transmit antenna 1816, via which the communications device1800 transmits signals to other communications devices. Transmittedsignals include, e.g., e.g., signals communicating: group membershipinformation, group resource allocation information, a group traffictransmission request, a group traffic transmission request response,group traffic data, peer to peer connection information, peer to peerconnection resource information, a peer to peer connection traffictransmission request, a peer to peer connection traffic transmissionrequest response, and peer to peer traffic data. In some embodiments,the same antenna is used for both the receiver and the transmitter.

User I/O devices 1808 include, e.g., a microphone, a keyboard, a keypad,switches, a camera, a speaker, a display, etc. User I/O devices 1808allow an operator of communications device 1800 to inputdata/information, access output data/information, and control at leastsome function of the communications device 1800.

Routines 1818 include a communications routine 1822 and control routines1824. The communications routine 1822 implements the variouscommunications protocols used by the communications device 1800. Thecontrol routines 1824 include a group information storage module 1826, agroup transmission request control module 1828, a group request responsemonitoring module 1830, a resource acquisition module 1832, a resourcescommunication module 1834, a group resources detection module 1836, agroup traffic signaling control module 1838, a group request monitoringmodule 1840, a group transmission request response control module 1842,a peer to peer information storage module 1844, and a peer to peertransmission request control module 1846.

Data/information 1820 includes group membership information 1848,received signal 1850, a generated group transmission request 1852, adetected request response from a group member 1854, timing/frequencystructure information 1874, information identifying acquired grouprelated resources for the device 1858, a resource communications signal1860, detected group resource information 1862, a generated grouptraffic signal 1864, a detected group transmission request 1866, agenerated group transmission request response 1868, peer to peerconnection information 1870, information identifying peer to peerconnection resources 1872, a generated peer to peer connectiontransmission request 1874, a received peer to peer connectiontransmission request response 1876 and a generated peer to peer trafficsignal 1878. Timing/frequency structure information 1874 includesinformation corresponding to a plurality of traffic slots in a recurringtiming structure (slot 1 information 1880, . . . , slot N information1882). Slot 1 information 1880 includes request resource information1884, request response resource information 1886 and traffic segmentinformation 1888.

Group information storage module 1826 stores group membershipinformation indicating the members of a group to which the firstcommunications device belongs. Group membership information 1848 is anoutput of module 1826.

Group transmission request control module 1828 controls the wirelesstransmitter module 1804 to transmit during a first period of time atransmission request used to signal an intent to transmit to members ofits group on a group transmission request resource corresponding tocommunications device 1800. In some embodiments, the group transmissionrequest resource corresponding to communications device 1800 is part ofa set of transmission request resources, the set of transmission requestresources also including connection based transmission requestresources.

Group request response monitoring module 1830 monitors received signalsto detect transmission request responses in group transmission requestresponse resources corresponding to individual members of the group.Received signals 1850 is an input to module 1830, while detected grouptransmission request 1866 is an output of module 1830.

Resource acquisition module 1832 acquires transmission request resourcesavailable to be used subsequently, e.g., group transmission requestresources associated with device 1800 and a group to which device 1800belongs. Information identifying acquired group related resources forthis device 1858 includes information which is an output of resourceacquisition module 1832, e.g., information identifying a transmissionunit in each of a plurality of slots to be used by device 1800 totransmit a group traffic transmission request. In some embodiments, theacquired transmission request resources include a single transmissionrequest resource, e.g., a single OFDM tone-symbol, for each of aplurality of request time periods. For example, the acquiredtransmission request resources correspond to one transmission unit foreach of a plurality of traffic transmission slots, e.g., onetransmission unit identified in request resource information 1884 forslot 1, . . . , one transmission unit identified in the request resourceinformation for slot N.

Resources communication module 1836 communicates to other members of thegroup to which device 1800 belongs group information indicating that theacquired transmission request resources are to be used by device 1800 astransmission request resources corresponding to the group. Resourcecommunication signal 1860 is a generated signal from module 1836 whichcommunicates group resource information pertaining to device 1800.

Group resources detection module 1836 detects from received signals fromother members of the group to which device 1800 belongs, informationindicating transmission request response resources to be used by othermembers of the group as group transmission request response resources.The detection of module 1836 occurs prior to monitoring for transmissionrequest responses in group transmission request response resourcescorresponding to individual members of the group. Thus informationobtained by group resources detection module 1836, e.g., detected groupresources information 1862, which may be part of group set-up or groupestablishment signaling, allows device 1800 to know where to look withinthe request response resources for request response signals from itsgroup members, e.g., which transmission units within request responseresource information 1886 are currently associated with its groupmembers.

Group request response resources are, in some embodiments, alsoallocated to individual members of a group and such information is alsoexchanged between group members. Resource acquisition module 1832, insome embodiments, acquires transmission request response resources to beused subsequently, e.g., by device 1800 when transmitting a requestresponse signal in response to a received group member transmissionrequest. Resources communications module 1836, in some embodiments,communicates information identifying the acquired group transmissionrequest response resources associated with communications device 1800 tothe other members of its group. Group resources detection module 1836,in some embodiments, detects from received signals from other members ofthe group to which device 1800 belongs, information indicatingtransmission request resources to be used by other members of the groupas group transmission request resources. In some embodiments, aparticular group transmission request resource is linked, e.g., by apredetermined timing/frequency structure implementation, to anotherparticular group transmission request response resource. In such anembodiment, when a communications device acquires a particular grouptransmission request resource it also acquires a corresponding grouptransmission request response resource.

Group traffic signaling control module 1838 controls the wirelesstransmitter module 1804 to transmit traffic data, e.g., generated grouptraffic signal 1864, using traffic resources corresponding to apreviously transmitted group transmission request, e.g., transmittedgenerated group transmission request 1852, following detection by thegroup request response monitoring module 1830 of at least one response,e.g., of detected request response from group member 1854 signifying apositive response to the request to transmit group traffic data.

Group request monitoring module 1840 is for detecting a grouptransmission request from received signals from another member of thegroup to which device 1800 belongs on a group transmission requestresource corresponding to the another member. In one exemplaryembodiment, if the communications device 1800 intends to transmit agroup traffic transmission request for the slot, the device does notmonitor for group transmission requests in the same slot. For example,in a first slot corresponding to a first period of time, grouptransmission request control module 1838 is active, while in anotherslot corresponding to a second period of time group request monitoringmodule 1840 is active. Detected group transmission request 1866represents an exemplary output of module 1840.

Group transmission request response control module 1842 control thewireless transmitter module 1804 to transmit a group transmissionrequest response on a group transmission request response correspondingto device 1800. Generated group transmission request response 1868 is anexemplary response signal transmitted under the control of module 1842,e.g., as a result of a decision by request response control module 1842to acquiesce to the received group transmission request.

Peer to peer information storage module 1844 stores peer to peerconnection information indicating a peer to peer connection with asecond device. Peer to peer connection information 1870, which is anoutput of module 1844, includes, e.g., information identifying anacquired connection identifier used to identify a peer to peerconnection between device 1800 and the second device and/or used toidentify air link resources associated with that connection, e.g., atransmission unit for carrying a traffic transmission request and atransmission unit for carrying a traffic transmission request responsefor each of a plurality of slots in the timing/frequency structure.Information identifying peer to peer connection resources 1872identifying particular resources, e.g., transmission units, within thetiming frequency structure 1874 currently associated with the connectionis also an output of module 1844.

Peer to peer transmission request control module 1846 controls thewireless transmitter module 1804 to transmit in a transmission requestresource corresponding to a peer to peer connection a request totransmit data to a second device over the peer to peer connection.Generated peer to peer connection transmission request 1874 is anexemplary peer to peer traffic transmission request transmitted underthe control of module 1846 using a resource identified by information1872 corresponding to a connection identified by information 1870.

In some embodiments, a second device with which the communication device1800 has a peer to peer connection can be, and sometime is a member of agroup to which device 1800 belongs, and thus device 1800 can be a memberof the group and maintain the peer to peer connection with second deviceat the same time. In some such embodiments, communications device 1800can, and sometimes does, maintaining both the group membership resourcesassociated with the second device and peer to peer connection resourcesassociated with second device.

FIG. 19 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications network1900 supporting group communications and peer to peer communications.Exemplary communications network 1900 includes a plurality of wirelesscommunications devices (communications device A 1902, communicationsdevice B 1904, communications device C 1906, communications device D1908, communications device W 1910, communications device X 1912,communications device Y 1914). The wireless communications devices ofFIG. 19 may be, e.g., devices in accordance with device 300 of FIG. 3and/or implementing a method of flowchart 200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 19 alsoindicates that communications device A 1902, communications device B1904, communications device C 1906 and communications device D 1908 haveformed group 1916 which supports group communications, e.g., groupcommunications including group cast traffic signaling. FIG. 19 alsoincludes legend 1918. Legend 1918 indicates that dashed lines 1920indicate established peer to peer connections, while dash-dot lines 1922indicate group communications connections. In this example, there aresix group communications connections shown between the various members(1902, 1904, 1906, 1908) of the group 1916. In addition, there is a peerto peer connection between communications device A 1902 andcommunications device W 1910, and there is a peer to peer connectionbetween communications device X 1912 and communications device Y 1914.

FIG. 20 illustrates exemplary resources allocation and exemplarysignaling corresponding to the example of FIG. 19, for one traffic slotin a recurring timing/frequency structure in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment. Drawing 2001 of FIG. 20 illustrates a block ofexemplary transmission request air link resources 2002, a block ofexemplary transmission request response air link resources 2004 and anexemplary traffic air link resource 2006, e.g., a traffic segment.

Drawing 2021 of FIG. 20 illustrates exemplary individual transmissionunits corresponding to the different connections. Transmission requestair link resources 2002 include: (i) transmission unit 2022 allocated tocarry a traffic transmission request from communications device A 1902to communications device B 1904 indicating that communications device Awould like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource2006 intended for communications device B 1904; (ii) transmission unit2024 allocated to carry a traffic transmission request fromcommunications device A 1902 to communications device C 1906 indicatingthat communications device A would like to transmit a traffic signal intraffic air link resource 2006 intended for communications device C1906; (iii) transmission unit 2026 allocated to carry a traffictransmission request from communications device X 1912 to communicationsdevice Y 1914 indicating that communications device X 1912 would like totransmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource 2006 intended forcommunications device Y 1944; (iv) transmission unit 2028 allocated tocarry a traffic transmission request from communications device A 1902to communications device D 1908 indicating that communications device A1902 would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air linkresource 2006 intended for communications device D 1908; (v)transmission unit 2030 allocated to carry a traffic transmission requestfrom communications device B 1904 to communications device C 1906indicating that communications device B 1904 would like to transmit atraffic signal in traffic air link resource 2006 intended forcommunications device C 1906; (vi) transmission unit 2032 allocated tocarry a traffic transmission request from communications device B 1904to communications device D 1908 indicating that communications device B1904 would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air linkresource 2006 intended for communications device D 1908; (vii)transmission unit 2034 allocated to carry a traffic transmission requestfrom communications device C 1906 to communications device D 1908indicating that communications device C 1906 would like to transmit atraffic signal in traffic air link resource 2006 intended forcommunications device D 1908; and (viii) transmission unit 2036allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communicationsdevice A 1902 to communications device W 1910 indicating thatcommunications device A 1902 would like to transmit a traffic signal intraffic air link resource 2006 intended for communications device W1910.

Drawing 2021 also indicates that transmission request response air linkresources 2004 which include: (i) transmission unit 2023 allocated tocarry a traffic transmission request response from communications deviceB 1904 to communications device A 1902 indicating that communicationsdevice B approves of the request to transmit a traffic signal in trafficair link resource 2006 intended for communications device B 1904; (ii)transmission unit 2025 allocated to carry a traffic transmission requestresponse from communications device C 1906 to communications device A1902 indicating that communications device C 1906 approves of therequest to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource 2006intended for communications device C 1906; (iii) transmission unit 2027allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response fromcommunications device Y 1914 to communications device X 1912 indicatingthat communications device Y 1914 approves of the request to transmit atraffic signal in traffic air link resource 2006 intended forcommunications device Y 1914; (iv) transmission unit 2029 allocated tocarry a traffic transmission request response from communications deviceD 1908 to communications device A 1902 indicating that communicationsdevice D 1908 approves of the request to transmit a traffic signal intraffic air link resource 2006 intended for communications device D1908; (v) transmission unit 2031 allocated to carry a traffictransmission request response from communications device C 1906 tocommunications device B 1904 indicating that communications device C1906 approves of the request to transmit a traffic signal in traffic airlink resource 2006 intended for communications device C 1906; (vi)transmission unit 2033 allocated to carry a traffic transmission requestresponse from communications device D 1908 to communications device B1904 indicating that communications device D 1908 approves of therequest to transmit a traffic signal in traffic air link resource 2006intended for communications device D 1908; (vii) transmission unit 2035allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response fromcommunications device D 1908 to communications device C 1906 indicatingthat communications device D 1908 approves of the request to transmit atraffic signal in traffic air link resource 2006 intended forcommunications device D 1908; and (viii) transmission unit 2037allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communicationsdevice W 1910 to communications device A 1902 indicating thatcommunications device W 1910 approves of the request to transmit atraffic signal in traffic air link resource 2006 intended forcommunications device W 1910.

Drawing 2041 of FIG. 20 illustrates exemplary signaling for onescenario. In this example, communications device A 1902 desires totransmit a group traffic signal to the other members of its group (1904,1906, 1908) using the traffic air link resource 2006. Communicationsdevice A 1902 generates and transmits traffic transmission requestsignals (2042, 2044, 2046) using transmission request transmission units(2022, 2024, 2028), respectively, of transmission request air linkresources 2002. Communications devices (communications device B 1904,communications device C 1906, communications device D 1908) receive thetraffic transmission request signals (2042, 2044, 2046), respectively.The devices which are members of the group are aware of the othermembers of the group and use such information in yielding consideration.For example, the device may detect a request directed to another memberof the group and need not yield based on that request since bothrequests correspond to a group cast traffic transmission. Thecommunications devices (communications device B 1904, communicationsdevice C 1906, communications device D 1908) generate and transmittraffic transmission request response signals (2050, 2052, 2054) usingtransmission request response transmission units (2023, 2025, 2029),respectively, of transmission request response resource 2004.

Communications device A 1904 detects the transmission request responsesignals (2050, 2052, 2054), signifying positive responses, generatesgroup traffic signals 2058, and transmits the group traffic signals 2058intended for communications devices (communications device A 1904,communications device B 1906, communications device C 1908) usingtraffic segment 2006.

Note that the resource allocation approach for group communicationsutilized in the example of FIG. 20, e.g., a connection identifier basedapproach, has an advantage that it can be readily implemented and/orused in a system supporting peer to peer connections using connectionidentifiers. However, for large group sizes, this approach tends to usea large amount of transmission request and transmission request responseresources. Another advantage to this connection based approach is thatsuch an approach can accommodate transmissions intended for subsets of agroup.

FIG. 21 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications network2100 supporting group communications and peer to peer communications.Exemplary communications network 2100 includes a plurality of wirelesscommunications devices (communications device A 2102, communicationsdevice B 2104, communications device C 2106, communications device D2108, communications device W 2110, communications device X 2112,communications device Y 2114). The exemplary communications devices ofFIG. 21 are, e.g., communications devices in accordance with device 1800of FIG. 18 and/or implementing a method in accordance with flowchart1700 of FIG. 17. FIG. 21 also indicates that communications device A2102, communications device B 2104, communications device C 2106 andcommunications device D 2108 have formed group 2116 which supports groupcommunications, e.g., group communications including group cast trafficsignaling. FIG. 21 also includes legend 2118. Legend 2118 indicates thatdashed lines 2120 indicate established peer to peer connections, whiledash-dot lines 2122 indicate group communications connections. In thisexample, there are six group communications connections shown betweenthe various members (2102, 2104, 2106, 2108) of the group 2116. There isalso a peer to peer connection between communications device A 2102 andcommunications device B 2104. In addition, there is a peer to peerconnection between communications device A 2102 and communicationsdevice W 2110, and there is a peer to peer connection betweencommunications device X 2112 and communications device Y 2114.

FIG. 22 illustrates exemplary resource allocation and exemplarysignaling corresponding to the example of FIG. 21, for one traffic slotin a recurring timing/frequency structure in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment. Drawing 2201 of FIG. 22 illustrates a block ofexemplary transmission request air link resources 2202, a block ofexemplary transmission request response air link resources 2204 and anexemplary traffic air link resource 2206, e.g., a traffic segment.

Drawing 2221 of FIG. 22 illustrates exemplary individual transmissionunits used to carry traffic transmission requests or traffictransmission request responses. Transmission request air link resources2202 include: (i) transmission unit 2222 allocated to carry a grouptraffic transmission request from communications device A 2102 to theother members of its group indicating that communications device A wouldlike to transmit a group traffic signal in traffic air link resource2206 intended for its group members; (ii) transmission unit 2224allocated to carry a group traffic transmission request fromcommunications device B 2104 to the other members of its groupindicating that communications device B 2104 would like to transmit agroup traffic signal in traffic air link resource 2206 intended for itsgroup; (iii) transmission unit 2226 allocated to carry a group traffictransmission request from communications device C 2106 to the othermembers of its group indicating that communications device C 2106 wouldlike to transmit a group traffic signal in traffic air link resource2206 intended for its group; (iv) transmission unit 2228 allocated tocarry a traffic transmission request from communications device D 2108to the other members of its group indicating that communications deviceD 2108 would like to transmit a group traffic signal in traffic air linkresource 2206 intended for its group; (v) transmission unit 2230allocated to carry a traffic transmission request from communicationsdevice X 2112 to communications device Y 2114 indicating thatcommunications device X 2112 would like to transmit a traffic signal intraffic air link resource 2206 intended for communications device Y 2114over its peer to peer connection; (vi) transmission unit 2232 allocatedto carry a traffic transmission request from communications device A2102 to communications device W 2110 indicating that communicationsdevice A 2102 would like to transmit a traffic signal in traffic airlink resource 2206 intended for communications device W 2110 over itspeer to peer connection with communications device W 2110; and (vii)transmission unit 2234 allocated to carry a traffic transmission requestfrom communications device A 2102 to communications device B 2104indicating that communications device A 2102 would like to transmit atraffic signal in traffic air link resource 2206 intended forcommunications device B 2104 over its peer to peer connection withcommunications device B 2104.

Drawing 2221 also indicates that transmission request response air linkresources 2204 include: (i) transmission unit 2236 allocated to carry atraffic transmission request response from communications device A 2102to a group member which previously transmitted a group traffictransmission request indicating that communications device A 2104approves of the request to transmit a group traffic signal in trafficair link resource 2206 intended for the group; (ii) transmission unit2238 allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response fromcommunications device B 2104 to a group member which previouslytransmitted a group traffic transmission request indicating thatcommunications device B 2104 approves of the request to transmit a grouptraffic signal in traffic air link resource 2206 intended for the group;(iii) transmission unit 2240 allocated to carry a traffic transmissionrequest response from communications device C 2106 to a group memberwhich previously transmitted a group traffic transmission requestindicating that communications device C 2106 approves of the request totransmit a group traffic signal in traffic air link resource 2206intended for the group; (iv) transmission unit 2242 allocated to carry atraffic transmission request response from communications device D 2108to a group member which previously transmitted a group traffictransmission request indicating that communications device D 2108approves of the request to transmit a group traffic signal in trafficair link resource 2206 intended for the group; (v) transmission unit2244 allocated to carry a traffic transmission request response fromcommunications device Y 2114 to communications device X 2112 indicatingthat communications device Y 2114 approves of the request to transmit apeer to peer traffic signal in traffic air link resource 2206 intendedfor communications device Y 2114 over a peer to peer communications linkwith device X 2112; (vi) transmission unit 2244 allocated to carry atraffic transmission request response from communications device W 2110to communications device A 2102 indicating that communications device W2110 approves of the request to transmit a peer to peer traffic signalin traffic air link resource 2206 intended for communications device A2102 over a peer to peer communications link with device A 2102; (vii)transmission unit 2248 allocated to carry a traffic transmission requestresponse from communications device B 2104 to communications device A2102 indicating that communications device B 2104 approves of therequest to transmit a peer to peer traffic signal in traffic air linkresource 2206 intended for communications device A 2102 over a peer topeer connection with communications device A 2102

Drawing 2251 of FIG. 22 illustrates exemplary signaling for onescenario. In this example, communications device A 2102 desires totransmit a group traffic signal to the other members of its group (2104,2106, 2108) using the traffic air link resource 2206. Communicationsdevice A transmits generates and transmits traffic transmission requestsignals 2252 using transmission request transmission unit 2222 oftransmission request air link resources 2202. Communications devices(communications device B 2204, communications device C 2206,communications device D 2208) receive the traffic transmission requestsignal 2252. The communications devices (communications device B 2104,communications device C 2106, communications device D 2108) generate andtransmit traffic transmission request response signals (2254, 2256,2258) using transmission request response transmission units (2238,2240, 2242), respectively, of transmission request response resource2204.

Communications device A 2102 detects the transmission request responsesignals (2254, 2256, 2258), signifying positive responses, generatesgroup traffic signals 2260, and transmits the group traffic signals 2260intended for communications devices (communications device B 2104,communications device C 2106, communications device D 2108) usingtraffic segment 2206.

Note that the resource allocation approach for group communicationsutilized in the example of FIG. 22, e.g., a device based approach, isadvantageous where there a large number of devices in the group. Forexample, in one embodiment with 10 members of a group using theconnection based approach of FIG. 20, one would use 45 individualtransmission request air link transmission units and 45 individualtransmission request response air link transmission units to accommodatepossible combinations of the group. In addition, if one also wants totake into account link direction, one would use twice that number oftransmission units, or another approach could be utilized such asalternating between link directions for different slots. However, ifinstead for an embodiment with 10 members in the group, the device basedapproach is used, one can support the group communications with 10individual transmission request transmission units and 10 transmissionrequest response transmission units. In general, if we have a group of Nmembers, where N is a positive number greater than or equal to 2, and ifthe connection identifier approach is used we would use N(N−1)uni-directional connection identifier associated transmission requestunits, e.g., OFDM tone-symbols, to accommodate the possible grouprequest signaling. However, under the same scenario if the deviceidentifier approach is used we would use N device identifier associatedtransmission request units, e.g., OFDM tone-symbols to accommodate thepossible group request signaling. In some embodiments, we may count eachconnection ID as bi-directional. In other words, an exemplary devicepair (A,B) of the group uses one connection ID. In that case, we woulduse N*(N−1)/2 bi-directional connection IDs. But the device basedapproach uses N IDs, each associated with one device. When N>2,N*(N−1)/2 is greater than or equal to N.

An additional advantage of the device based resource allocation approachfor group communications is reduced signaling. In the connectionidentifier based resource allocation approach of FIG. 20 WT A 1902transmits 3 traffic transmission request signals, while in the devicebased resource allocation approach of FIG. 22, WT A 2102 transmitted onerequest signal.

The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented using software,hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware. Variousembodiments are directed to apparatus, e.g., mobile nodes such as mobileaccess terminals, base stations including one or more attachment points,and/or communications systems. Various embodiments are also directed tomethods, e.g., method of controlling and/or operating mobile nodes, basestations and/or communications systems, e.g., hosts. Various embodimentsare also directed to machine, e.g., computer, readable medium, e.g.,ROM, RAM, CDs, hard discs, etc., which include machine readableinstructions for controlling a machine to implement one or more steps ofa method.

In various embodiments nodes described herein are implemented using oneor more modules to perform the steps corresponding to one or moremethods, for example, transmitting a first plurality of transmissionrequests corresponding to multiple connections corresponding to acommunications group, transmitting data to peer to peer communicationsdevices in a communications group, receiving a first plurality oftransmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to acommunications group and at least one transmission request correspondingto a non-group connection, making a decision whether or not to transmita transmission request response to a group member from which a requestwas received, etc. Thus, in some embodiments various features areimplemented using modules. Such modules may be implemented usingsoftware, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. Many ofthe above described methods or method steps can be implemented usingmachine executable instructions, such as software, included in a machinereadable medium such as a memory device, e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. tocontrol a machine, e.g., general purpose computer with or withoutadditional hardware, to implement all or portions of the above describedmethods, e.g., in one or more nodes. Accordingly, among other things,various embodiments are directed to a machine-readable medium includingmachine executable instructions for causing a machine, e.g., processorand associated hardware, to perform one or more of the steps of theabove-described method(s). Some embodiments are directed to a device,e.g., communications device, including a processor configured toimplement one, multiple or all of the steps of one or more methods ofthe invention.

Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer, ormultiple computers, to implement various functions, steps, acts and/oroperations, e.g. one or more steps described above. Depending on theembodiment, the computer program product can, and sometimes does,include different code for each step to be performed. Thus, the computerprogram product may, and sometimes does, include code for eachindividual step of a method, e.g., a method of controlling acommunications device or node. The code may be in the form of machine,e.g., computer, executable instructions stored on a computer-readablemedium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) orother type of storage device. In addition to being directed to acomputer program product, some embodiments are directed to a processorconfigured to implement one or more of the various functions, steps,acts and/or operations of one or more methods described above.Accordingly, some embodiments are directed to a processor, e.g., CPU,configured to implement some or all of the steps of the methodsdescribed herein. The processor may be for use in, e.g., acommunications device or other device described in the presentapplication.

In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g., CPUs, of one ormore devices, e.g., communications devices such as wireless terminalsare configured to perform the steps of the methods described as being asbeing performed by the communications device. Accordingly, some but notall embodiments are directed to a device, e.g., communications device,with a processor which includes a module corresponding to each of thesteps of the various described methods performed by the device in whichthe processor is included. In some but not all embodiments a device,e.g., communications device, includes a module corresponding to each ofthe steps of the various described methods performed by the device inwhich the processor is included. The modules may be implemented usingsoftware and/or hardware.

While described in the context of an OFDM system, at least some of themethods and apparatus of various embodiments are applicable to a widerange of communications systems including many non-OFDM and/ornon-cellular systems.

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus of thevarious embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled inthe art in view of the above description. Such variations are to beconsidered within the scope. The methods and apparatus may be, and invarious embodiments are, used with CDMA, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), and/or various other types of communicationstechniques which may be used to provide wireless communications linksbetween access nodes and mobile nodes. In some embodiments the accessnodes are implemented as base stations which establish communicationslinks with mobile nodes using OFDM and/or CDMA. In various embodimentsthe mobile nodes are implemented as notebook computers, personal dataassistants (PDAs), or other portable devices includingreceiver/transmitter circuits and logic and/or routines, forimplementing the methods.

1. A method of operating a first peer-to-peer communications device toimplement group communications, comprising: transmitting a firstplurality of transmission requests corresponding to multipleconnections, said first plurality of transmission requests correspondingto a first data transmission block, individual ones of said multipleconnections being between said first peer to peer communications deviceand other peer-to-peer communications devices in a communications group;and transmitting data to said other peer-to-peer communications devicesin said first data transmission block.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid first plurality of transmission requests is transmitted in a firsttransmission request block.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: prior to transmitting data, making a decision whether or notto transmit in said first data transmission block based on signalsreceived from non-group member peer-to-peer devices, said decision beinga decision to transmit.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:transmitting a second plurality of transmission requests correspondingto said multiple connections, said second plurality of transmissionrequests corresponding to a second data transmission block; and making adecision whether or not to transmit data in said second datatransmission block based on signals received from non-group memberpeer-to-peer devices.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein making adecision whether or not to transmit data in said second transmissionblock includes: determining whether or not to transmit in said seconddata transmission block, as a function of the received power level oftransmission request response corresponding to non-group memberconnections which have a higher priority than the highest priorityconnection of said multiple connections.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein when said determination determines not to transmit in saidsecond data transmission block, refraining from transmitting in saidsecond data transmission block.
 7. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: transmitting subsequent to transmission of said firstplurality of transmission requests, a pilot signal; and receiving, priorto transmitting data in said first data transmission block, a pluralityof channel quality feedback signals from different members of saidgroup.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: determining a datatransmission rate to be used for transmission of data in said first datatransmission block from said plurality of channel quality feedbacksignals.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining a datatransmission rate includes selecting a data transmission rate which canbe supported by a connection having the worst channel conditionsindicated by said received channel quality feedback signals.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting a second pluralityof transmission requests corresponding to said multiple connections,said second plurality of transmission requests corresponding to a seconddata transmission block; and making a decision whether or not totransmit data in said second transmission block based on the number ofresponses received from group members.
 11. A peer-to-peer communicationsdevice supporting group communications, the first communications devicecomprising: a wireless transmitter; a transmission request controlmodule configured to control said wireless transmitter to transmit aplurality of transmission requests corresponding to multipleconnections, said plurality of transmission requests corresponding to adata transmission block, individual ones of said multiple connectionsbeing between said peer to peer communications device and otherpeer-to-peer communications devices in a communications group; and adata transmission control module configured to control said wirelesstransmitter to transmit data to said other peer-to-peer communicationsdevices in said data transmission block.
 12. The peer-to-peercommunications device of claim 11, wherein said plurality oftransmission requests is transmitted in a transmission request block.13. The peer-to-peer communications device of claim 11, a receiver forreceiving signals; and a transmission decision module configured to makea decision whether or not to transmit in said data transmission blockbased on signals received from non-group member peer-to-peer devices.14. The peer-to-peer communications device of claim 13, wherein saidtransmission decision module determines whether or not to transmit insaid data transmission block, as a function of the received power levelof transmission request responses corresponding to non-group memberconnections which are received and have a higher priority than a highestpriority connection of said multiple connections.
 15. The peer-to-peercommunications device of claim 14, wherein said data transmissioncontrol module is configured to be responsive to said transmissiondecision module and controls said transmitter to refrain fromtransmitting in said data transmission block when said transmissiondecision module makes a decision not to transmit in said datatransmission block.
 16. The peer-to-peer communications device of claim12, further comprising: a pilot signal transmission control module forcontrolling said transmitter to transmit, subsequent to transmission ofsaid plurality of transmission requests, a pilot signal; and a receiverconfigured to receive, prior to transmission by said transmitter of datain said data transmission block, a plurality of channel quality feedbacksignals from different members of said group.
 17. The peer-to-peercommunications device of claim 16, further comprising: a transmissionrate determination module configured to determine a data transmissionrate, to be used for transmission of data in said data transmissionblock, based on said plurality of channel quality feedback signals. 18.A peer-to-peer communications device supporting group communications,the first communications device comprising: wireless transmitter means;transmission request control means for controlling said wirelesstransmitter means to transmit a plurality of transmission requestscorresponding to multiple connections, said plurality of transmissionrequests corresponding to a data transmission block, individual ones ofsaid multiple connections being between said first peer to peercommunications device and other peer-to-peer communications devices in acommunications group; and data transmission control means forcontrolling said wireless transmitter means to transmit data to saidother peer-to-peer communications devices in said data transmissionblock.
 19. The peer-to-peer communications device of claim 18, whereinsaid plurality of transmission requests is transmitted in a transmissionrequest block.
 20. The peer-to-peer communications device of claim 18,further comprising: receiver means for receiving signals; andtransmission decision means for making a decision whether or not totransmit in said data transmission block based on signals received fromnon-group member peer-to-peer devices.
 21. A computer program productfor use in a first peer-to-peer communications device to implement groupcommunications, the computer program product comprising: computerreadable medium comprising: code for causing a computer to transmit afirst plurality of transmission requests corresponding to multipleconnections, said first plurality of transmission requests correspondingto a first data transmission block, individual ones of said multipleconnections being between said first peer to peer communications deviceand other peer-to-peer communications devices in a communications group;and code for causing a computer to transmit data to said otherpeer-to-peer communications devices in said first data transmissionblock.
 22. A method of operating a peer-to-peer communications device toimplement group communications, comprising: receiving a first pluralityof transmission requests corresponding to connections corresponding to acommunications group and at least one transmission request correspondingto a non-group connection, said first plurality of transmission requestsand said at least one transmission request corresponding to a non-groupconnection corresponding to a first data transmission block; and makinga decision whether or not to transmit a transmission request response toanother member of said group from which a transmission request wasreceived as a function of a priority of a connection between the secondcommunications device and said another member of said group and apriority corresponding to said non-group connection without taking intoconsideration transmission requests received from other members of saidgroup.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said first plurality oftransmission requests are received from a first transmission requestblock.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the priority corresponding tothe non-group connection is higher than the priority corresponding tothe transmission request from said another member of said group, themethod further comprising: calculating a receive signal quality value asa function of the received power of the received transmission requestfrom said another member of said group and the receive power of thereceived non-group member transmission request.
 25. The method of claim24, further comprising: comparing the calculated receive signal qualityvalue to a threshold; and when the calculated receive signal qualityvalue is below a threshold making a decision not to transmit atransmission request response to said another member of said group. 26.The method of claim 22, further comprising: when each of the receivedtransmission requests from non-group members corresponding toconnections have lower priority than the received transmission requestfrom the another member of said group, making a decision to transmit atransmission request response to said another member of said group; andtransmitting a transmission request response to said another member ofsaid group.
 27. The method of claim 22, wherein the decision is totransmit a transmission request response to said another group member,the method further comprising: transmitting a transmission requestresponse to said another member of said group; and receiving a grouptraffic signal from said another member of said group on a traffictransmission resource corresponding to said transmission request fromsaid another member of said group.
 28. The method of claim 24, whereinpriority is conveyed by position of a request in said first transmissionrequest block.
 29. The method of claim 22, further comprising: prior tomaking a decision whether or not to transmit a transmission requestresponse to another member of said group, identifying the receivedtransmission request from said another member of said group from amongsaid first plurality of transmission requests.
 30. The method of claim29, wherein identifying the received transmission request from saidanother member of the group includes selecting the received transmissionrequest from among said first plurality of transmission requests whichhas the highest priority as the identified received transmission requestfrom said another member of the group.
 31. A peer-to-peer communicationsdevice supporting group communications, the peer to peer communicationsdevice comprising: a wireless receiver module configured to receive afirst plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connectionscorresponding to a communications group and at least one transmissionrequest corresponding to a non-group connection, said first plurality oftransmission requests and said at least one transmission requestcorresponding to a non-group connection corresponding to a first datatransmission block; and a group request response decision moduleconfigured to make a decision whether or not to transmit a transmissionrequest response to another member of said group from which atransmission request was received as a function of a priority of aconnection between the communications device and said another member ofsaid group and a priority corresponding to said non-group connectionwithout taking into consideration transmission requests received fromother members of said group.
 32. The peer to peer communications deviceof claim 31, wherein said first plurality of transmission requests arereceived from a first transmission request block.
 33. The peer to peercommunications device of claim 31, further comprising: a prioritycomparison module configured to determine if a priority corresponding toa non-group connection from which a transmission request was received ishigher than a priority corresponding to the transmission request fromsaid another member of said group, and: a receive signal qualitycalculation module configured to calculate a receive signal qualityvalue as a function of the received power of the received transmissionrequest from said another member of said group and the receive power ofa received non-group member transmission request.
 34. The peer to peercommunications device of claim 33, further comprising: a receiveryielding module configured to compare a calculated receive signalquality value to a threshold; and when the calculated receive signalquality value is below a threshold making a decision not to transmit atransmission request response to said another member of said group. 35.The peer to peer communications device of claim 31, further comprising:a wireless transmitter module; and a transmission request responsecontrol module configured to control said wireless transmitter module totransmit a transmission request response to said another member of saidgroup when said group request response decision module makes a decisionto transmit a transmission request response to said another member ofsaid group.
 36. The peer to peer communications device of claim 35,wherein said group request response decision module makes a decision totransmit a transmission request response to said another member of saidgroup when each of the received transmission requests from non-groupmembers corresponding to connections have lower priority than thereceived transmission request from the another member of said group. 37.A peer-to-peer communications device supporting group communications,the peer to peer communications device comprising: wireless receivermeans for receiving a first plurality of transmission requestscorresponding to connections corresponding to a communications group andat least one transmission request corresponding to a non-groupconnection, said first plurality of transmission requests and said atleast one transmission request corresponding to a non-group connectioncorresponding to a first data transmission block; and group requestresponse decision means for making a decision whether or not to transmita transmission request response to another member of said group fromwhich a transmission request was received as a function of a priority ofa connection between the communications device and said another memberof said group and a priority corresponding to said non-group connectionwithout taking into consideration transmission requests received fromother members of said group.
 38. The peer to peer communications deviceof claim 37, wherein said first plurality of transmission requests arereceived from a first transmission request block.
 39. The peer to peercommunications device of claim 37, further comprising: prioritycomparison means for determining if a priority corresponding to anon-group connection from which a transmission request was received ishigher than a priority corresponding to the transmission request fromsaid another member of said group; and receive signal qualitycalculation means for calculating a receive signal quality value as afunction of the received power of the received transmission request fromsaid another member of said group and the receive power of a receivednon-group member transmission request.
 40. A computer program productfor use in a peer-to-peer communications device to implement groupcommunications, the computer program product comprising: computerreadable medium comprising: code for causing a computer to receive afirst plurality of transmission requests corresponding to connectionscorresponding to a communications group and at least one transmissionrequest corresponding to a non-group connection, said first plurality oftransmission requests and said at least one transmission requestcorresponding to a non-group connection corresponding to a first datatransmission block; and code for causing a computer to make a decisionwhether or not to transmit a transmission request response to anothermember of said group from which a transmission request was received as afunction of a priority of a connection between the communications deviceand said another member of said group and a priority corresponding tosaid non-group connection without taking into consideration transmissionrequests received from other members of said group.